**Sarma: A Culinary Journey Through Stuffed Cabbage Delights**
Sarma, a delectable dish that has captivated taste buds across cultures and continents, is a culinary masterpiece that showcases the skillful blending of flavors and textures. Originating in the Balkans, this dish has spread its charm throughout the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and beyond, captivating food enthusiasts with its unique combination of tender cabbage leaves, savory fillings, and aromatic spices. This article presents a tantalizing array of sarma recipes, each offering a distinct interpretation of this beloved dish. From the classic Romanian sarmale, bursting with a harmonious blend of minced meat, rice, and aromatic herbs, to the Turkish yaprak sarma, where tender vine leaves envelop a flavorful filling of lamb or beef, this article promises a culinary adventure that will leave you craving for more. Vegetarian enthusiasts will delight in the meatless Croatian version, where mushrooms, rice, and vegetables come together in a symphony of flavors. For those seeking a taste of the sea, the Greek lahanodolmades, featuring a succulent filling of rice, herbs, and seafood, offers a delightful seafood spin on this classic dish. With step-by-step instructions and insightful tips, these recipes will guide you in recreating these culinary gems in the comfort of your own kitchen. Embark on this culinary journey and discover the diverse world of sarma, a dish that promises to tantalize your palate and transport you to culinary heavens.
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
CROATIAN SARMA SOUP (STUFFED CABBAGE SOUP)
I had a wonderful Sarma Soup at a local eatery and then tried to find a recipe online with no luck. So I used recipes for traditional Croatian Sarma, stuffed cabbage leaves, and made up my own version in a soup. It is very close to the version I had in the restaurant, but I like this one better. I am not Croatian and have no idea how authentic these flavors are, but I did use elements from recipes that were described as "authentic." This would be great for using up extra rice. Very easy and such comfort food.
Provided by Messy44
Categories Rice
Time 1h15m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Cook turkey bacon in frying pan until crisped, remove from pan to drain on paper towels. Crumble and set aside.
- Add ground beef to pan and brown in turkey bacon drippings until almost cooked through.
- Add diced onion and cook 4-5 minutes until onions are transparent.
- Add garlic and cook an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Drain meat mixture on paper towel lined plate.
- Place all ingredients, including meat mixture and turkey bacon, in a large pot and cook over medium heat until it boils. Turn heat down and cook for at least one hour, stirring occasionally. Add a little water if it gets too thick for your liking. I cook mine 2-3 hours.
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.
Tips:
- Choose fresh, firm cabbage: The key to a great sarma recipe is using high-quality cabbage. Look for cabbages that are heavy for their size and have tightly packed leaves.
- Blanch the cabbage leaves: Blanching the cabbage leaves makes them more pliable and easier to roll. To blanch the leaves, bring a large pot of water to a boil and then drop in the cabbage leaves. Boil for 2-3 minutes, or until the leaves are bright green and tender. Immediately remove the leaves from the boiling water and place them in a colander to drain.
- Use a variety of fillings: Sarma can be filled with a variety of meats, vegetables, and grains. Common fillings include ground beef, lamb, pork, rice, vegetables, and spices. Get creative and experiment with different fillings to find your favorite combination.
- Roll the sarma tightly: When rolling the sarma, make sure to roll them tightly so that the filling doesn't fall out. You can use a toothpick to secure the rolls if necessary.
- Cook the sarma slowly: Sarma is traditionally cooked slowly in a tomato-based sauce. This allows the flavors to meld and the cabbage leaves to become tender. Simmer the sarma for at least 1 hour, or until the cabbage leaves are tender and the filling is cooked through.
Conclusion:
Sarma is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to use up leftover cabbage and other vegetables, and it can be made ahead of time and reheated when you're ready to serve. With a little planning and effort, you can make a delicious sarma recipe that will impress your family and friends.
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