**Sarma: A Culinary Journey through Bosnia's Stuffed Cabbage Delights**
Embark on a tantalizing culinary adventure with Sarma, a traditional Bosnian dish that showcases the harmonious blend of savory flavors and intricate preparation. These stuffed cabbage leaves, also known as "Bosnian Cigars," are a testament to the region's rich culinary heritage, offering a delightful symphony of textures and aromas. Discover the secrets behind this beloved dish as we delve into the authentic Bosnian Sarma recipe, along with variations that cater to different preferences and dietary needs. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary exploration, Sarma is sure to captivate your taste buds and leave you craving for more.
SARMA (STUFFED CABBAGE)
For this satisfying dish, cabbage leaves are stuffed with a seasoned mixture of rice, ground beef, pork and ham. They are then laid on a bed of sauerkraut and simmered to completion. This is the best stuffed cabbage recipe I've ever tried.
Provided by Bea Gassman
Categories Main Dish Recipes Stuffed Main Dish Recipes Stuffed Cabbage
Time 3h15m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Place cabbage in the freezer for a few days. The night before making the rolls, take it out to thaw.
- In a large bowl, combine the beef, pork, ham, rice, onion, egg, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix well. Form meat mixture into oblong balls, using 1/2 cup of the mixture at a time. Then, wrap a cabbage leaf around each ball.
- Spread the sauerkraut in the bottom of a large pot, then layer cabbage rolls on top, placing them seam-side down. Pour tomato juice over rolls, then add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 3 hours, adding more water as necessary.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 531.7 calories, Carbohydrate 43.8 g, Cholesterol 140.6 mg, Fat 22.7 g, Fiber 8.2 g, Protein 38.4 g, SaturatedFat 8.5 g, Sodium 1135.3 mg, Sugar 10.3 g
SARMA - BOSNIAN STUFFED CABBAGE LEAVES
There are different versions of this recipe from all over the Balkans. You may be able to get sour cabbage from an Eastern European market; if not, you can boil the cabbage heads until soft enough to work with (the dish will taste slightly different - maybe add some vinegar to the broth). It is a very filling dish! Don't worry about leftovers, they taste just fine reheated (use the stove, not the microwave)!
Provided by IronChefZahra
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 3h30m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Separate the cabbage leaves, being careful not to tear them.
- Mix meat, rice, onion, salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Place about a tablespoon or more (use your own judgment based on the size of the leaves) of the meat mixture into each cabbage leaf, near its base.
- Begin rolling the leaf from the base into a thick cylinder, tucking in the sides after the first "roll."
- Layer the cylinders tightly into a medium-sized or large pot.
- Cover the sarma with beef stock or water (I find that if you use water, it makes its own broth anyways with the meat as it cooks).
- Cover the pot, bring to a boil, and simmer for at least three hours.
- Serve with butter and sour cream, with or without some of the cooking liquids according to your preference.
- *Boiled potatoes are often eaten with sarma, and they go quite well together.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 226.5, Fat 5.2, SaturatedFat 2, Cholesterol 58.1, Sodium 100, Carbohydrate 28.3, Fiber 5.8, Sugar 9.3, Protein 18.3
SARMA, STUFFED CABBAGE LEAVES FROM DALMATIA
This is from Saveurs de Croatie and is highly recommended by my dear friend in Serbia who says "We always want to take big pot home" when her mother in law makes it and invites the family.
Provided by Annacia
Categories Pork
Time 2h30m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Remove any wilted or bruised leaves from the cabbage and cut out the center core.
- Pour boiling water over the cabbages to soften.
- Meanwhile, in the oil, sauté the bacon and onion until the bacon is cooked.
- Add minced garlic.
- Beat the egg and add the salt, pepper, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, ground beef, pork or ham and half the tomatoes.
- Add the bacon mixture and rice and combine thoroughly.
- Separate the cabbage leaves and drain.
- Place a heaping tablespoon of stuffing at the core end of each cabbage leaf and roll up carefully, tucking in the ends.
- Layer the rolls in a Dutch oven or heavy kettle.
- Chop up the small unused leaves and place on top.
- Pour the remaining tomatoes and juice over top and add enough water to cover the rolls.
- Cover and simmer for 2 to 2-1/2 hours.
SERBIAN STUFFED CABBAGE
This recipe was given to me by a farmer neighbor. She grew up in a Serbian neighborhood, and said the Serbian name for this dish is Sarma. I always think of this kind lady whenever I make this dish...she and her husband always had a huge garden (one year they grew five different types of leaf lettuce!), and they were always very generous with their harvests.-Mrs. Arthur Goldberg, Goetzville, Michigan
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 2h
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a skillet, brown beef and onion; drain and set aside. In a Dutch oven or large kettle, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Add cabbage; simmer 6-8 minutes. Remove wilted cabbage leaves with a fork; drain and cool. , Meanwhile, in a saucepan, add rice to 2 cups boiling water; when water comes to a boil again, remove from the heat. Drain and rinse. Add rice to beef; season with salt and pepper. Remove the large vein from 12 large cabbage leaves. , Line bottom of another large kettle with half of the remaining small cabbage leaves; cover with half of the sauerkraut. Place 1 tablespoon of meat mixture on each large cabbage leaf. Fold sides over and roll leaf up tightly lengthwise; tuck loose ends under and place seam side down on top of sauerkraut. Repeat with remaining large leaves and meat mixture. Cover with remaining sauerkraut and small cabbage leaves. , For gravy, combine the oil and flour in a small saucepan. Add remaining ingredients and cook over medium heat until slightly thickened; pour over cabbage leaves. Simmer gently over low heat for 1-1/2 to 2 hours, shaking kettle occasionally to prevent sticking.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 249 calories, Fat 12g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 37mg cholesterol, Sodium 1039mg sodium, Carbohydrate 20g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 17g protein.
Tips:
- Choose the right cabbage: Select a firm, round head of cabbage with tightly packed leaves. Savoy cabbage is a good option as its leaves are more tender and easier to work with.
- Prepare the cabbage leaves properly: To make the cabbage leaves pliable and easy to roll, blanch them in boiling water for a few minutes. Remove the leaves from the boiling water and immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
- Use a variety of fillings: Sarma can be made with a variety of fillings, such as ground beef, pork, lamb, or a combination of meats. You can also add rice, vegetables, and herbs to the filling for extra flavor and texture.
- Roll the sarma tightly: To prevent the sarma from falling apart during cooking, roll them tightly. You can use a toothpick or skewer to secure the rolls.
- Cook the sarma slowly: Sarma should be cooked slowly over low heat to allow the flavors to develop and the cabbage leaves to become tender. Cover the pot while cooking to prevent the sarma from drying out.
Conclusion:
Sarma is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With its combination of tender cabbage leaves, flavorful filling, and rich sauce, sarma is a perfect dish for any occasion. Whether you're serving it as a main course or a side dish, sarma is sure to be a hit. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give sarma a try. You won't be disappointed!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love