Traditional Romanian Cabbage Rolls (Sarmale) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are sarmale romanian or turkish? ›

Sarmale, the delicious mix Romanian. Traditional Romanian food has been influenced over the centuries by Turkish, Hungarian, Greek, Serbian, Russian, Polish, French and Italian cuisine, but innovations, local ingredients, Orthodox religious customs, preference for pork meat and other specific conditions make it unique.

Romanian Sarmale, the stuffed cabbage rolls, is a beloved dish that represents the rich culinary heritage of Romania. Whether enjoyed during the holidays or as a comforting meal year-round, Sarmale is a true taste of Romanian tradition.

Recipes vary depending on region; northern Poles prefer a savory sauce, while Galicia, Hungary and Ukraine favor sweet-and-sour, for example.

sarmale (plural sarmales) A Romanian sarma; a roll consisting of minced meat or another stuffing wrapped in cabbage leaves.

Sarmale (Romanian Cabbage Rolls) is widely considered to be Romania's national dish. Sarmale is one of the most popular recipes with each region having its own subtly tweaked version with different meat, vegetables and local herbs.

Sarmale is one of the most consumed dishes in Romania. It consists of cabbage stuffed with meat or vegetables and rolled into a cabbage wrap.

Romania. The traditional Romanian breakfast is milk, tea or coffee alongside (toasted) bread with butter or margarine and on top of it, honey or fruit jams or preserves. Sometimes the buttered bread is served savory instead of sweet, in which case the Romanians add cured meats, salami, or cheese.

Pork is the main meat used in Romanian cuisine, but also beef is consumed and a good lamb or fish dish is never to be refused.

Initially, cabbage rolls were created by the Turkish, who claim to be the original cookers of the dish. But as they conquered more and more territory, the recipe was spread and adapted by tens of other countries.

Who invented sarmale? ›

Many countries dispute the ownership of this food, but is basically impossible to tell is it was the Turks, Greeks, Bulgarians, Hungarians, Serbians, Croatians or Romanians who invented the “sarmale”. There is historical proof that in the Ice Age people were wrapping minced meat in leafs and boiled for food.

If your cooked cabbage is tough, it's likely because the cabbage is not cooked through yet. Continue to cook the rolls until they're tender. It's also important to make sure you let the rolls rest after they're finished baking.

Traditional Romanian cabbage rolls or stuffed cabbage (sarmale) have origins that date back over 2,000 years. Cabbage rolls are prepared in many cultures and countries around the world and apparently, they can be traced back to Jewish cuisine from thousands of years ago.

First association on Serbian cuisine. A dish that is believed to have arrived in the Balkans along with the Turks during a five-century rule. The name derives from the Turkish vocabulary, from the word sarmak which means twist, wrap.

Sarma is a Turkish dish that literally translates as 'rolled thing'. There are many variations, but the most famous are rolled vine leaves stuffed with minced lamb and rice. These rolls are boiled in water and traditionally served with a side of yogurt.

Sarmale, or Romania's version of cabbage rolls, have origins that date back over 2, 000 years. The direct heritage of cabbage rolls is uncertain, however, its lineage can be traced back to Jewish cooking from over 2000 years ago. Many countries and cultures have variations of cabbage rolls.

First association on Serbian cuisine. A dish that is believed to have arrived in the Balkans along with the Turks during a five-century rule. The name derives from the Turkish vocabulary, from the word sarmak which means twist, wrap.

The term sarmale, or sarma, comes from the Turkish sarmak, which literally means “roll or package.” In Romania, instead of cabbage leaves, they also use leaves of grapes, cauliflower, sorrel, or beet.

All the compartments of the Romanian language have traces of the Turkish influence. Nevertheless, there are no longstanding and consistent effects but in the vocabulary. The innovations in phonetics and grammar are usually linked only to some changes in the distribution of the elements, but not in their inventory.