Zelevi Sarmi (Stuffed Cabbage Leaves)

 

"Another Bulgarian dish confused with its Greek cousin. Zelevi sarmi are made of cabbage leaves stuffed with combination of rice and minced meat and then boiled. They can be served both hot or cold to you liking. Go great with wine."

Ingredients:

1 cabbage, pickled
3 onions, chopped
1 carrot
1 root celery
2 cups white rice
1 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
bunch of Italian parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons tomato juice or puree

Directions:

 De-leaf the cabbage. Combine the onion, carrot, celery and cook in the oil until onion turns golden. Add the rice, parsley, salt and the pepper.
Use the mixture to fill the leaves, shaping as small bundles. The best way to do it is to put some mixture on a big leaf, put a small leaf on top and wrap the big leaf around the small one. Put in a pot, cover with water and boil. You can bake them in the oven in a casserole pan full of water instead.