Authentic Romanian Sauerkraut Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipes

AUTHENTIC ROMANIAN SAUERKRAUT STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Make the filling:
• In a large bowl place together ground meat, diced onions, rice, thyme, ground pepper and marjoram. Mix everything really well.
• Set aside.
• Make the cabbage rolls:
• Prepare the cabbage leaves by removing the core and the thickest part of each leaf. If the leaves are too big cut them in half.
• Grab a cabbage leaf and place 1 tablespoon of meat on it. Wrap the meat inside the cabbage leaf to obtain a neat roll.
• Place shredded cabbage on the bottom of the pot, then start adding the rolls.
• Optional, you can add a layer of bacon over each layer of rolls.
• Fill up the pot with cabbage rolls, then mix together the tomato juice and the paste and pour it over the rolls.
• Add water to cover the rolls.
• The final layer should be shredded cabbage.(use left over cabbage)
• Sprinkle more bacon, thyme and bay leaves and cover with a lid.
• Bake in the oven at 350F for about 2 hours.
• Remove the lid and allow the cabbage rolls to bake for another 30-45 minutes. You might notice the water evaporated, so you can add a little bit more, but do not fill up the pot again.
• Serve them warm with a dollop of sour cream on top, fresh bread or polenta and hot peppers.
• Crockpot: Follow the same method of making the rolls, but cook them in the crockpot on "Low" from 6-8 hours, or 4-5 hours on "high".
• Instant Pot: Follow the recipe as I describe it. Close the pot and press the "Pressure Cook"manual button setting the time for about 18-20 minutes. Do a natural pressure release.

STUFFED CABBAGE WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Make the filling: Put 1 pound each of beef and pork together through the fine blade of a food chopper twice. In a bowl, combine the meat with 1 cup cooked rice, 1 egg lightly beaten, 1 onion and 2 garlic cloves, both minced, and salt and pepper to taste. Remove 12 large outer leaves from a head of cabbage, reserving the remaining cabbage for another use. Dip the leaves briefly in boiling water to soften and spread them out flat on a work surface. Top each leaf with some of the filling and fold the leaves over the filling, tucking in the ends to make neat rolls. Put 2 pounds sauerkraut in a large kettle with light beer or white wine to cover and heat it gently. In a sauce pan melt 3 tablespoons lard, bacon fat or ham fat, blend in 3 tablespoons flour and cook the roux for 1 to 2 minutes. Blend it into the sauerkraut and bring the liquid to a boil, stirring constantly. Arrange the cabbage rolls on top of the sauerkraut and cook them, covered, in a moderate oven (350?F.) for 2 to 3 hours or until the filling is done. Serve the stuffed cabbage and sauerkraut topped with sour cream.;

ROMANIAN SARMALE (CABBAGE ROLLS)

Steps:

• Remove core from cabbage. In a large pot, bring to boil enough water to cover cabbage. Add 2 tablespoons salt and 1/4 cup vinegar to boiling water. Immerse cabbage in boiling water. Cover and cook over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes. With fork or tongs, gently remove leaves as they become tender. Drain well; let cool. Trim main leaf vein so it is flat like rest of cabbage leaf.
• In a large frying pan over medium heat, add oil, onions, celery, bacon, salt, pepper, paprika, parsley leaves and saute until light golden brown. Remove from heat and let cool for 1/2 hour.
• Add ground pork, rice and sauteed onions together along with 1/2 cup water, and mix well. This is the meat filling.
• Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of the meat filling in center of cabbage leaf. Fold right hand side of leaf over filling, then roll from base to bottom of leaf, then with index finger gently tuck left hand side of leaf into cabbage roll to make a nice neat roll. Squeeze juice out of sauerkraut and place 1/2 of jar on bottom of pot. Chop any leftover cabbage and place on top of sauerkraut. Place pork hock on top of sauerkraut. Arrange cabbage rolls, seam side down in pot in neat layers. Place them loosely touching each other and layer on top of one another. Sprinkle with salt between layers. Place second half of sauerkraut on top of cabbage rolls. Spread tomato sauce and tomato juice over kraut and place 1 bay leaf (and optional dill sprig) on top. Cover rolls with water just enough to cover rolls. Place heavy dish on top making sure there is a couple inches between plate on top of pot. Cover pot and bring to boiling and reduce heat to simmer and cook for about 2 hours.
• Serve with sour cream and mamaliga for a real romanian dish.