The Very Best Cabbage Rolls Aka Sarmas Food

CROATIAN SARMA RECIPE (STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS)

Steps:

• Take an entire pickled cabbage head. You'll find these on Amazon or in European delicatessens in the chilled section. Wash each leaf thoroughly. Remove the thick part of the stem without tearing the leaves. It's best to allow the leaves to drain on some paper towel or pat each one dry
• Take a large mixing bowl, and combine mincemeat, speck, garlic, parsley leaves, soda water or bicarbonate soda, rice, Vegeta, hot paprika (optional), sweet paprika (optional), breadcrumbs (optional), Salt and pepper, egg & olive oil
• Mix all of the ingredients until well combined
• You want each of the leaves to be about the same size so that each cabbage roll cooks at the same time. So go ahead and cut any large leaves in half, and also join two smaller leaves together as you go
• Take approx 3 tablespoons of the minced meat, and gently combine in the palm of your hand. Do not roll or compress as this will make them too dense when you eat them
• Place the meat on the edge of the cabbage leaf and roll away from you. Then tuck in the sides of the leaf gently into the meat. There should be no exposed meat. If there is, remove some of the filling
• Set the sarma aside, and prepare the sauce
• In a shallow saucepan, or even better, a Le Creuset cast-Iron dish, splash in some extra virgin olive oil, add the 2 diced onions and cook until transparent on low heat. Then add the 2 diced carrots, diced speck, and parsley. Continue to fry on low heat until carrots start to soften
• Add the shredded sauerkraut and create a layer on the bottom of the saucepan. Now, pack the Croatian sarma into the saucepan. They should be packed close together.
• Pour in boiling water so that it just covers the sarma. Add the passata and a pinch of salt and pepper. Every 20 minutes, give the saucepan a shake (do not stir them or they will break) and let them simmer for 2 hours on a low-medium heat

THE VERY BEST CABBAGE ROLLS AKA SARMAS

Steps:

• Core cabbage and boil in pan of water with 3 tblsp vinegar,boil about 25 minutes till leaves are soft.
• While the cabbage is boiling,cook bacon, crisp and crumbled set aside.
• Saute onions and garlic,set aside.
• Mix beef and pork with eggs,spices,rice and 1/2 cup onions and garlic and bacon.
• Cut thick vein from leaves.
• Fill cabbage leaves with 2 tblsp of filling place seams down.
• Combine sauce,sauerkraut,remaining onions,garlic, sugar,salt,paprika,and pepper. Pour over cabbage rolls.
• Can be made in crockpot 6-8 hours low or stovetop bring to boil cover and simmer 3 hours or in the oven 350 foil covered for 2 hours.
• When the rolls are done add a mix of cornstarch and water to thicken the sauce and pour over rolls to serve.

BEST EVER CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Core cabbage and place in a large pot. Fill hole with vinegar and salt. Fill pot with water to top of cabbage but not flowing into the core. Bring to a boil, turn stove off and leave overnight. The next morning your cabbage is cooled and ready to work with, perfect!
• Combine ground beef, pork, cooked rice, 2 tablespoons sugar, 4 tablespoons onion, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, salt, pepper and 1/2 teaspoon paprika.
• Grab an appropriate sized handful of meat for the size of cabbage leaf and place at the core end of the leaf, roll, tucking sides of the leaf inches.
• Place on a platter seam side down.
• Continue with remaining leaves.
• Saute diced onion in the canola oil with salt, pepper and 1/2 teaspoon paprika, until translucent.
• Place in the bottom of a large roasting pan.
• Add hot water and stir to combine.
• Place cabbage rolls on top of the onion mixture, arranging smaller ones on the second layer.
• Mix tomato sauce with the brown sugar and lemon juice; pour over the cabbage rolls.
• Cover and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Wash rice thoroughly. In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups rice and 4 cups water. Bring to boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until all of the water is absorbed.
• In the meantime, remove the core from the cabbages using a thin, long knife. Place 1 cabbage in a microwave proof container with a lid with core side down. Pour 1/2 cup water into the container with the cabbage, cover and microwave on HIGH (full power) for 10 minutes. Carefully turn cabbage over and cook covered for an additional 10 minutes. When cabbage is cooked, let sit until it is cool enough to handle. Separate leaves carefully, removing any tough ribs. Cook the second cabbage in the same manner.
• Divide chopped onions in half. Saute one half of the onions in 3 tablespoons butter; cook just until translucent (do not brown). In a large mixing bowl, mix together both the cooked and uncooked rice, cooked and uncooked onions, ground beef, pork sausage, garlic, dill weed, salt, black pepper and sugar and mix well to blend.
• Spoon about 2 tablespoons of mixture onto each cabbage leaf. Bring one end of cabbage leaf over mixture, roll and tuck ends in to prevent any filling from falling out.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare two 9x13 inch casserole dishes by placing some left over cabbage leaves in bottom of each. Arrange cabbage rolls in a single layer tight against each other.
• In a food processor or blender, process condensed tomato soup and tomatoes. Pour tomato mixture over the cabbage rolls until just covered. Place 4 bay leaves on top of sauce in each dish. Cover each dish tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 2 hours. Once cooked, remove the dishes from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes before removing aluminum foil. Serve hot.