Sarmale Moldovenești Fără Călire: Tradiție în Fiecare Gust

ground pork

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground beef

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground beef is often more affordable.

sour cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Greek yogurt offers a healthier option with similar creaminess.

smoked bacon

🥗Healthier: turkey bacon

💰Cheaper: pork belly

Turkey bacon is lower in fat, while pork belly is often less expensive.

tomato paste

🥗Healthier: crushed tomatoes

💰Cheaper: ketchup

Crushed tomatoes provide a fresh taste, while ketchup is a budget-friendly alternative.

Put the ground pork in a larger bowl.

Add the onions, grated carrot, and rice to the pork and mix well with hands.

Add dried dill, half the amount of thyme, paprika, salt, and freshly ground pepper to the mixture and mix well.

Add about a glass and a half of cold water to make the mixture softer and taste for seasoning.

Take a cabbage leaf, form a cabbage roll with some of the meat mixture, and continue until all the meat is used up.

Place the rolls in a clay pot, starting with a layer of chopped cabbage.

Sprinkle some thyme over the cabbage layer, then add a row of cabbage rolls.

Place a few slices of kaiser, a few peppercorns, and some tomato juice over the rolls.

Repeat layering until all rolls are finished, topping with chopped cabbage and pouring remaining tomato juice and thyme over.

Pour in enough cold water to cover the rolls, cover with a lid, and put in the oven at 180°C.

Bake for 2.5 hours, then remove the lid and bake for an additional 45 minutes.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: