Sarma

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Tender cabbage rolls filled with minced meat and rice, slowly simmered in a tomato-rich sauce for deep, comforting flavour.

What is sarma?

Sarma are stuffed cabbage rolls eaten in many Balkan countries. The filling often combines meat and rice, and the rolls slowly cook in sauce. It is classic comfort food for colder days.

Serves: 6 people

Preparation time: 105 min

Ingredients

• Pickled cabbage leaves – 12
• Minced beef – 300 g
• Minced pork – 300 g
• Rice – 120 g
• Onion – 1 large
• Garlic – 3 cloves
• Egg – 1
• Paprika powder – 1 tbsp
• Passata – 500 ml
• Tomato paste – 2 tbsp
• Smoked bacon – 100 g
• Bay leaves – 2
• Oil – 2 tbsp
• Salt – to taste
• Black pepper – to taste

Method

STEP 1
Mix the minced meat with the rice, finely chopped onion, garlic, egg, paprika, salt and pepper.

STEP 2
Place a spoonful of filling on each cabbage leaf and roll them up tightly, folding in the sides.

STEP 3
Line a pot with a little bacon, add the rolls close together and scatter the remaining bacon between them.

STEP 4
Stir the passata with tomato paste and pour it over the rolls. Add the bay leaves and enough water to almost cover everything.

STEP 5
Simmer gently for about 1.5 to 2 hours until the cabbage is soft and the filling is cooked through.