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Zagreb (Croatia)
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Main course
Meat
Food Flavour DNA
Nutritional Values
500kcal
30gProtein
50gCarbs
20gFat
6gFibre
400 gServing
* Per serving · 400 g. May vary.
Allergens
🌾 Gluten
Sarma
How to order / say it
Say it
Sarma — [SAR-mah]
Order
I'd like the Sarma, please.
Locally
Htjela bih sarmu, molim.
Say locally
Cabbage leaves stuffed with a mix of minced meat and rice.
Why try it?
Considered a staple winter dish in Zagreb, Sarma embodies the city's approach to comfort food—rich, flavorful, and perfect for long, cozy meals with family.
How it tastes
A hearty cabbage roll featuring a savory filling; the sour notes from the fermented cabbage add a delightful tang, balanced by the meaty, spiced interior.
Origin & History — first documented: 1850
Sarma is believed to have originated in the Ottoman Empire with influences spreading to Southeast Europe, becoming firmly embedded in Croatian cuisine during the 19th century as a symbol of home cooking.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 🥕 500 g cabbage leaves
- 🥩 400 g minced beef
- 🌾 100 g rice
- 🧄 50 g onion
- 🧂 10 g paprika
- 🧂 to taste salt
Method
- 1 Mix minced beef with rice, onions, paprika, and salt.
- 2 Stuff cabbage leaves with meat mixture, roll tightly.
- 3 Arrange in pot, cover with water, simmer until cooked.
- 4 Serve warm, preferably with bread or potatoes.
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