Hearty Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
• 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 14.5-ounce cans tomato sauce
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
• 4 cups green cabbage, coarsely chopped
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 cup uncooked long grain rice
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme