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A platter of tightly rolled Turkish cabbage sarmas with red tomato sauce.

Easy-Wrap Turkish Cabbage Rolls (Lahana Sarması)

A traditional Turkish favorite featuring tender cabbage leaves stuffed with a savory meat and rice mixture, slow-cooked in a tangy tomato sauce.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Turkish
Calories: 518
Ingredients Equipment Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium White Cabbage
  • 1.5 cups White Rice (washed)
  • 4 oz Ground Beef
  • 1 large Onion (finely diced)
  • 3 tbsp Tomato and Pepper Paste (mixed)
  • ½ cup Vegetable Oil
  • 1 tsp Dried Mint
  • 1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1 tsp Sweet Paprika
  • A pinch of Cumin
  • ½ cup Water (for the stuffing mixture)
  • Salt (to taste)
For the Sauce & Topping:
  • 1.5 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 1 cup Cold Water
  • 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
  • 1 oz Suet or Tail Fat (optional, for extra flavor)

Equipment

  • Large Soup Pot: For boiling the whole cabbage and simmering the rolls.
  • Sharp Chef’s Knife: Essential for our specialized cutting technique.
  • Small Saucepan: For preparing the savory tomato glaze.
  • Large Bowl: For the cold-water shock and the stuffing mixture.

Method
 

  1. Use our "quadrant" cutting method to slice the cabbage and easily remove leaves.
    Slicing a whole white cabbage using the easy-wrap quadrant method.
  2. Boil the leaves in a large pot of water for 5 minutes until pliable.
    Boiling cabbage leaves in a large pot on the stove.
  3. Immediately transfer boiled leaves to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking.
    Placing boiled cabbage leaves in a cold water bath.
  4. Mix rice, meat, onions, spices, oil, and water in a bowl until fully combined.
    Preparing the raw beef and rice stuffing for cabbage rolls.
  5. Place stuffing on each leaf and roll tightly. Arrange them in a circular pattern in the pot.
    Tightly rolling cabbage sarmas and placing them in a pot.
  6. Whisk tomato paste and water in a pan, sauté briefly, and pour over the rolls.
    Pouring a savory red tomato sauce over prepared cabbage rolls.
  7. Top with fat (optional), weigh down with a plate, and simmer on low for 45 mins.
    Slow-cooking cabbage rolls in a pot with a weight on top.

Video

Notes

If your cabbage is very large, the inner leaves might be too small for rolling. Don't throw them away! Chop them up and place them at the very bottom of the pot. This creates a "shield" that prevents the sarmas from sticking or burning, and they taste delicious as a side!