Beyaz lahana sarması, сарма од киселог купуса, sarmale în foi de varză, сарма од кисела зелка, sarma od ukiseljena kupusa, dolma

Fermented cabbage rolls

Fermented cabbage rolls

INGREDIENTS:
Makes 16-20 depending on their size:
20-25 pickled cabbage leaves
pickled cabbage juice
several tablespoons sunflower oil
black pepper
salt

For the filling:
500 g minced meat
1 cup rice
1 onion head
1-2 carrots
3 cups stock or water + bouillon cube
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon coriander
½ teaspoon cardamom
½ teaspoon cloves
½ teaspoon allspice
½ teaspoon black pepper
several tablespoons sunflower oil
salt
fresh parsley

1 cup = 250 ml

PREPARATION:
If you are using fresh cabbage instead of pickled you need to boil the leaves in salted water a bit beforehand in order for them to soften.
Cut the onion and the carrots into small pieces and put them in a deep pan together with the sunflower oil. Fry until the onion softens and add the minced meat. Cook with a continuous stir for several minutes until it changes its color. Add the spices (cumin, coriander, cardamom, allspice and black pepper). Add the rice and fry it for several minutes until it becomes translucent. Start adding a little of the bouillon/stock while stirring. The cooking continues until the rice absorbs all of the stock and softens. Add finely cut parsley, stir and remove from the heat. Season with salt if needed. Leave the filling to cool.

Put 1-2 tablespoons of it onto a cabbage leaf and fold from both sides.

Fermented cabbage rolls

Fermented cabbage rolls

Roll it as shown below.

Fermented cabbage rolls

Put several leaves onto the bottom of a deep pan and place the stuffed cabbage onto it.

Fermented cabbage rolls

Once they are all in place pour equal quantities of pickled cabbage juice and water so that they are fully covered in liquid. Add several tablespoons of sunflower oil, black pepper and salt. Press onto the sarma with a plate or a lid that is smaller than the saucepan so that they won’t unfold during the boiling.

Fermented cabbage rolls

Bring it to a boil and lower the heat once it starts boiling. Cook over low heat for about 40 minutes.

Fermented cabbage rolls

Fermented cabbage rolls

Fermented cabbage rolls