Here in Croatia it’s all about tradition. We have much to offer, from beautiful nature like all of our national parks, picturesque villages, breathtaking views of the coastline, of course our crystal clear sea and there is also food. We love to eat, and we show it by our delicious recipes. Sarma may not origin here, but it’s pretty traditional in these parts. Nobody does it like our grandmas do, so this is one of my grandma’s recipes. So if you ever find yourself here in Croatia, find a grandma and ask her to prepare you some Sarma, until then you can enjoy my grandma’s recipe!
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Enjoy & happy cooking!
Preparation: 25 min
Cook time: 1,5 – 2 h
Servings: 6-8
Ingredients
- 1 kg sour cabbage, whole leaves
- 500 g minced meat, combination of beef and pork
- 80 g rice
- 60 g smoked bacon, finely chopped
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1 tbsp red paprika
- 400 g potatoes, sliced
- 1 tsp butter
- 1 tbsp sour cream
- Vegetable oil
- Salt & pepper
How to
- Remove whole leaves off of the cabbage. Remove thick part of the leaves near the root.
- In a large bowl mix together minced meat, rice and finely chopped smoked bacon. In a small pan heat a teaspoon of vegetable oil and add onion to it, let it simmer and when it’s almost done stir in garlic. Set aside onion and garlic to cool down, then add to the meat and rice mixture.
- Fill the leaves of sour cabbage with the minced meat and rice mixture. Roll the filled cabbage leaves to get Sarmas.
- Slice the rest of the sour cabbage and place it in a large cooking pot. On top place sarmas and cover everything with water. Cook over medium heat for 1,5 to 2 hours.
- In a small pan heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, stir in flour and red paprika, let it simmer for a few minutes. Add flour and paprika to the large cooking pot with Sarmas the last half hour of cooking.
- In a second medium pot cook sliced potatoes in a slightly salted water until soft. Mash potatoes with butter and sour cream. Serve cooked Sarma with mashed potatoes.
Looks so good, Kreso. Delicious and comforting. I love the food my Grandmother used to cook.
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Grandmas always have the best recipes because we grow up eating their cooking 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, always happy to read your lovely comments!
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This looks so yummy!
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Thank you, happy you think so! 😀
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My grandmother, who was Ukrainian made a similar dish! I’ve tried to recreate but it’s never quite the same. What is sour cabbage, maybe that’s what I need to find!
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Here in Croatia and neighbouring countries you can find sour cabbage in every local market. It’s fermented vegetable food preserve, you can google it and there are recipes on how to make it by yourself, I’ll also be posting a recipe on how to do it yourself soon 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, hope you get the chance to make these yourself!
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Uhhhhh….sarma! Obožavam ❤
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Tko ne? Sarma je sve! 😀
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Yum! One of my favourite Croatian dishes. You are absolutely right in saying Sarma is traditional dish. Cheers Kreso 🙂
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Thank you very much, it’s one of my favourite traditional recipes too! Hope you have a great week Milanka! 🙂
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Grandma’s food is always tasty and then with mashed potatoes… super good!
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Thank you very much! And I would absolutely agree 🙂
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grandmas = underrated
The pictures alone are making me drool. Suddenly this salad I’m eating for lunch taste like sawdust 😦
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Thank you for the comment, and I’m sure the salad is delicious! 🙂
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In Romania we have sarmale too, very popular for Christmas. Yum! Lots of work to roll though 🙂
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I know, it’s really popular all around these parts and we also like to make it for Christmas! Maybe a lot of work but it’s so worth it 😀
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Yes can’t wait for Christmas 🙂
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Love the look and sound of this meal! I need to find some sour cabbage too – will look out for your recipe! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
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Since a few people asked I’m planning on posting the recipe for sour cabbage so if you can’t find it at your market you can make it on your own 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, hope you get to try out the recipe and like it as much as me and my family do!
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Thank you! Will look out for your sour cabbage. I’m sure I’ll love your dish! 🙂
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I absolutely adore cabbage rolls. Is this a Croatian version? They look delicious.
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Yes, exactly, this is my grandma’s recipe, 100% Croatian 😀
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My grandmother used to make sarma and the whole family would meet at her place to have it together. My mother makes it, too, but I haven’t tried making them yet, guess it’s time… Reading your recipe brought back nice memories 🙂
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Thank you! I can’t describe how happy I am after reading your comment, since the memories my recipe brought up for you, are so similar to the memories this dish brings up for me every time I make it 🙂
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Love this! The Hungarian version is töltött kàposzta, and so true, grandmothers do it best!
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I’m going to Budapest for Christmas for the third or fourth time, I’ll be sure to find a restaurant serving them! 😀
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