"Sarma" Croatian Stuffed Cabbage

Prepare cabbage leaves by cutting out the core and soaking them in warm water to remove excess salt and vinegar.

Saute chopped onions, celery, and garlic until caramelized.

Mix diced leftover sour cabbage and sliced regular cabbage with tomato paste in a bowl.

Combine ground pork, ground beef, eggs, oregano, smoked paprika, rice, black pepper, parsley, and salt in a bowl.

Mix the meat mixture thoroughly using hands.

Roll the meat mixture in soaked cabbage leaves and place them on a tray.

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Layer the bottom of a casserole dish with the cabbage and tomato mixture, then pack in the rolled sarmas tightly.

Add pieces of smoked meat on top of the first layer of sarmas, followed by more cabbage and tomato mixture.

Add a second layer of stuffed cabbages and fill the dish with tomato juice.

Cover the casserole dish and bake at 500 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for about three and a half hours.

Equipment Needed

Allergens