Un-Stuffed Cabbage Soup With Meatballs

Name: Un-Stuffed Cabbage Soup With Meatballs
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients: 2 lbs ground meat (your favorite blend of veal, pork and beef); 1 cup rice, uncooked; 1 tablespoon salt, plus more for seasoning; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning; 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin; 2 tablespoons (about 3 cloves) garlic, minced; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 cup coarsely minced onion, plus 1/2 onion, minced, for meatballs; 1 cup carrots, thinly sliced; 1 cup tomato paste; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup ketchup; 1 (28 oz) can whole peeled tomatoes with juice; 1 medium cabbage; 1 bay leaf; 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice; 1/2 cup golden raisins