Romanian Cabbage Rolls (Sarmale)

Name: Romanian Cabbage Rolls (Sarmale)
Prep time: 3 h
Cook time: 5 h
Total time: 8 h
Cuisine: Eastern European
Ingredients: 2 kg whole pickled cabbage; 1 kg ground pork; 200 grams bacon (cut into thin strips); 200 grams smoked pork rib (optional, half diced finely and added to filling and half sliced thinly and layered between rolls); 1.5 cups yellow onion (finely diced); 1 cup short grain white rice (uncooked); 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 tablespoon dried summer savory; 2 teaspoons paprika (smoked or sweet); 2 teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (sunflower, canola or other neutral oil); 1.5 cups tomato puree; 0.5 cups water; 0.25 cups vegetable oil; 1 teaspoon dried savory; 0.5 teaspoons salt; 0.5 teaspoons black pepper; 0.5 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

Prep:3hCook:5h

Sarmale are the cabbage rolls of Romania, made with a filling of ground pork, smoked pork, rice and spices wrapped in sauerkraut and slow cooked until tender and golden.

Updated at: Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:58:20 GMT