Sarmale – Romanian cabbage rolls

Ingredients

• 1 whole fermented cabbage, or 20 large blanched cabbage leaves
• 700 g minced pork
• 120 g uncooked rice
• 2 finely chopped onions
• 2 tbsp oil
• 400 g chopped tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 7 dl meat stock
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• salt and pepper
• sour cream to serve

Method

1. 1Rinse fermented leaves if very salty and trim thick ribs. Sauté onion in oil and cool.
2. 2Mix pork, rinsed rice, onion, thyme, pepper and a little salt. Divide among leaves, fold sides in and roll loosely.
3. 3Line pot with spare cabbage and pack in rolls. Mix tomatoes, purée and stock and pour over. Add bay leaves.
4. 4Simmer covered for 2–2½ hours until rice is tender and meat cooked through. Keep rolls almost covered with liquid. Serve with sour cream.