Low Fat Sarmale in Cabbage Leaves
Elevate your family dinner with this delicious and healthy twist on a traditional Romanian favorite—Low Fat Sarmale in Cabbage Leaves! Packed with lean ground turkey and pork, protein-rich brown rice, and a flavorful blend of herbs like dill and parsley, this recipe offers all the comforting aromas and tastes of classic sarmale without the extra calories. The cabbage leaves serve as tender, gluten-free wrappers for the savory filling, while a rich tomato broth infused with paprika and bay leaves brings everything together in a harmonious blend. Slow simmered to perfection, these cabbage rolls are a lighter yet satisfying choice perfect for cozy evenings or special gatherings. Ready in under two hours, this low-fat, high-flavor dish is a surefire way to delight your guests and keep your healthy eating goals on track!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 head large cabbage
- 500 grams lean ground turkey
- 250 grams lean ground pork
- 100 grams brown rice
- 1 medium, finely chopped onion
- 1 medium, grated carrot
- 2 tablespoons, chopped dill
- 2 tablespoons, chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 750 milliliters water
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
Remove the core from the cabbage head. Fill a large pot with water, bring to a boil, and blanch the cabbage for about 5-8 minutes until the leaves are soft and pliable. Carefully remove and cool.
In a pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the finely chopped onion and grated carrot until tender, about 5 minutes. Allow to cool slightly.
In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, ground pork, brown rice, sautéed onion and carrot, dill, parsley, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to incorporate all ingredients.
Separate the cabbage leaves and trim down the thick central vein if necessary. Take a leaf, place 1-2 tablespoons of filling at one end, fold in the sides, and roll tightly towards the other end.
In a pot, spread a few cabbage leaves on the bottom. Layer the sarmale closely together, arranging them in concentric circles.
Dilute the tomato paste in 750 ml of water. Pour over the cabbage rolls ensuring they are mostly covered in liquid. Add bay leaves for flavor.
Cover the pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce heat to low and cook for about 90 minutes until the cabbage is tender and the flavors are well developed.
Serve warm and enjoy your low-fat sarmale!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1908 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 97.0 g | 124% | |
| Saturated Fat | 27.1 g | 136% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 557 mg | 186% | |
| Sodium | 5395 mg | 235% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 114.3 g | 42% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 29.4 g | 105% | |
| Total Sugars | 46.0 g | ||
| Protein | 171.7 g | 343% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 703 mg | 54% | |
| Iron | 18.1 mg | 101% | |
| Potassium | 4523 mg | 96% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
