{"id":"sarmale_87e393948d","slug":"sarmale-romanian-cabbage-rolls","title":"Sarmale (Romanian Cabbage Rolls)","description":"A traditional Eastern European delicacy featuring tender fermented cabbage leaves stuffed with a savory mixture of minced pork, aromatic herbs, and rice, slow-cooked to perfection with smoked meats and tomato sauce.","serves":6,"time":{"prepMinutes":60,"cookMinutes":120,"totalMinutes":180,"activeMinutes":60},"ingredients":[{"id":"ingredient-1","original":"1 large head of sour cabbage (sauerkraut)","name":"Cabbage","quantity":1,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"piece","form":"sour head / fermented","notes":"large head of sauerkraut","group":"Wrapper","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-2","original":"500g minced pork","name":"Ground Pork","quantity":500,"unit":"g","usQuantity":1.1,"usUnit":"lb","form":"minced","notes":"ground","group":"Filling","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-3","original":"100g rice","name":"Rice","quantity":100,"unit":"g","usQuantity":"1/2","usUnit":"cup","form":"round grain","notes":"raw","group":"Filling","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-4","original":"2 onions, chopped","name":"Onion","quantity":2,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"piece","form":"chopped","notes":"medium size","group":"Filling","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-5","original":"200g smoked bacon","name":"Bacon","quantity":200,"unit":"g","usQuantity":7.1,"usUnit":"oz","form":"sliced or diced","notes":"smoked","group":"Flavoring","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-6","original":"3 tbsp tomato paste","name":"Tomato Paste","quantity":45,"unit":"ml","usQuantity":3,"usUnit":"tbsp","form":"concentrated","notes":"","group":"Filling and Sauce","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-7","original":"1 bunch fresh dill","name":"Dill","quantity":1,"unit":"bunch","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"bunch","form":"chopped","notes":"","group":"Filling","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-8","original":"1 tsp dried thyme","name":"Thyme","quantity":1,"unit":"tsp","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"tsp","form":"dried","notes":"","group":"Filling","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-9","original":"2 bay leaves","name":"Bay Leaves","quantity":2,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"piece","form":"whole","notes":"","group":"Cooking Liquid","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-10","original":"2 tbsp sunflower oil","name":"Sunflower Oil","quantity":30,"unit":"ml","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"tbsp","form":"liquid","notes":"","group":"Filling","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-11","original":"1 liter water","name":"Water","quantity":1,"unit":"l","usQuantity":4.2,"usUnit":"cup","form":"hot","notes":"","group":"Cooking Liquid","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-12","original":"Salt and black pepper to taste","name":"Black Pepper","quantity":1,"unit":"pinch","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"pinch","form":"","notes":"to taste","group":"Filling","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-13","original":"Black pepper to taste","name":"Black Pepper","quantity":1,"unit":"pinch","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"pinch","form":"ground","notes":"to taste","group":"Filling","optional":false}],"instructions":[{"id":"instruction-1","text":"Prepare the cabbage leaves: Carefully separate the leaves from the sour cabbage head. Cut out the thick central vein from each leaf. If leaves are too large, cut them in half.","group":"Preparation","title":"Prepare the cabbage leaves","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Preparation"},{"id":"instruction-2","text":"Sauté the onions in sunflower oil over medium heat until they become soft and translucent.","group":"Filling","title":"Sauté the onions","timerMinutes":8,"sourceTitle":"Filling"},{"id":"instruction-3","text":"In a large bowl, combine the minced pork, sautéed onions, rice, 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, chopped dill, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly by hand until well incorporated.","group":"Filling","title":"Combine the minced pork, sautéed onions, rice, 1 tablespoon of tomato paste","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Filling"},{"id":"instruction-4","text":"Place about a tablespoon of the meat mixture onto each cabbage leaf. Fold the sides inward and roll tightly to secure the filling.","group":"Assembly","title":"Place about a tablespoon of the meat mixture","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Assembly"},{"id":"instruction-5","text":"Finely chop any leftover cabbage leaves. Spread half of the chopped cabbage on the bottom of a large pot or Dutch oven. Arrange the rolls in layers, placing slices of smoked bacon and bay leaves between the layers.","group":"Cooking","title":"Finely chop any leftover cabbage leaves","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Cooking"},{"id":"instruction-6","text":"Cover the top with the remaining chopped cabbage. Mix the water with the remaining 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and pour it over the sarmale until they are just covered. Simmer over low heat for 2 hours, or bake in the oven at 350°F (177°C) for the same duration.","group":"Cooking","title":"Cover the top with the remaining chopped cabbage","timerMinutes":120,"sourceTitle":"Cooking"}],"notes":"Using a Dutch oven or a heavy clay pot yields the best results. If the sauerkraut is very salty, rinse the leaves in cold water before stuffing.","cuisine":{"group":"Eastern European","specific":["Romanian"]},"course":["main"],"cookingMethod":["slowCook","simmer","bake"],"equipment":["Dutch oven","Heavy bottomed pot","Mixing bowl","Knife"],"diet":["high_protein","gluten_free"],"allergens":[],"difficulty":"medium","yield":{"amount":25,"unit":"piece","note":"Approximately 25-30 rolls"},"makeAhead":{"instructions":"Sarmale taste even better the next day as the flavors develop. They can be cooked 24 hours in advance."},"storage":{"food":{"instructions":"Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.","reheatingNotes":"Reheat slowly on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of water."}},"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Fsarmale_87e393948d%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=e79a0085-11ac-4de9-b8d0-d7912ce2c652","imageAlt":"Sarmale (Romanian Cabbage Rolls) — recipe cover","aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","sourceUrl":"","tags":["cabbage rolls","sarmale","romanian food","comfort food","slow cooked"],"schemaVersion":1,"sourceTitle":"Sarmale (Romanian Cabbage Rolls)","sourcePublishedAt":"2026-02-04T05:09:53.029Z","sourceUpdatedAt":"2026-02-04T05:09:53.029Z","related":[{"id":"recipe_943b7108be","slug":"buckwheat-porridge-hrechana-kasha","title":"Buckwheat Porridge (Hrechana Kasha)","description":"A nutritious, nutty, and comforting Eastern European staple. This fluffy buckwheat porridge is a healthy, gluten-free dish that is perfect for breakfast or as a hearty side.","serves":2,"time":{"prepMinutes":5,"cookMinutes":20,"totalMinutes":25,"activeMinutes":10},"cuisine":{"group":"Eastern European","specific":["Ukrainian"]},"course":["main","side"],"difficulty":"easy","diet":["vegetarian","gluten_free","high_protein"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_943b7108be%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=7dd38cb8-7bb4-48fd-b6e8-db1d1eed0a49","imageAlt":"Buckwheat Porridge (Hrechana Kasha) — recipe cover","tags":["healthy","gluten-free","grains","comfort food","ukrainian"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":4,"stepCount":5},{"id":"recipe_2de0ebda17","slug":"classic-fried-eggs-yayechnya","title":"Classic Fried Eggs (Yayechnya)","description":"A simple and hearty Eastern European breakfast staple, perfectly fried in butter until the whites are set and the yolks remain golden and runny.","serves":1,"time":{"prepMinutes":1,"cookMinutes":4,"totalMinutes":5,"activeMinutes":5},"cuisine":{"group":"Eastern European","specific":["Ukrainian"]},"course":["main"],"difficulty":"easy","diet":["vegetarian","gluten_free","keto","low_carb"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_2de0ebda17%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=0988b3e6-a90f-4431-b861-ac88053e5f08","imageAlt":"Classic Fried Eggs (Yayechnya) — recipe cover","tags":["eggs","breakfast","quick","protein","ukrainian","low carb"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":4,"stepCount":5},{"id":"ovsena_kasa_da34fa4a4b","slug":"creamy-oatmeal-ovsena-kasa","title":"Creamy Oatmeal (Ovsená Kaša)","description":"A comforting and nourishing Eastern European breakfast staple made with rolled oats simmered in milk and water, traditionally served with a knob of butter and honey.","serves":1,"time":{"prepMinutes":2,"cookMinutes":8,"totalMinutes":10,"activeMinutes":8},"cuisine":{"group":"Eastern European","specific":["Slovak"]},"course":["main"],"difficulty":"easy","diet":["vegetarian"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Fovsena_kasa_da34fa4a4b%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=f129ec12-1f3d-4b53-b747-f42d48dcf3a2","imageAlt":"Creamy Oatmeal (Ovsená Kaša) — recipe cover","tags":["oatmeal","porridge","healthy","warm breakfast","easy breakfast","slovak"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":6,"stepCount":5}]}