Best Sarma Hot Dish Recipes

CHICKEN SHAWARMA HOTDISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Make the shawarma spice: Combine the paprika, cumin and turmeric in a small bowl.
• Place the chicken in a mixing bowl and season with 2 tablespoons salt and 1 tablespoon of the shawarma spice, tossing to coat. Cook right away, or refrigerate overnight, if desired.
• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons canola oil, then add the chicken and sear until caramelized and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a baking sheet or plate to cool.
• Add the remaining 4 tablespoons canola oil to the pan, then add the onions and 1 tablespoon salt. Cook, stirring often, until softened and starting to brown, about 7 minutes. Add 2 more tablespoons of the shawarma spice and cook 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer the onions to a large bowl.
• Very thinly slice the chicken, then add to the onions along with the chickpeas and sliced pickles. Add the tahini and stir to evenly coat, then stir in 2 cups water.
• Transfer the chicken mixture to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and sprinkle with parsley. Split the pitas horizontally to make 8 circles. Stack the pita rounds and slice into 8 wedges each. Put the pita wedges in a mixing bowl, drizzle with the olive oil and lightly toss to coat. Top the chicken mixture with an even layer of pita wedges. Bake until the pita is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Top with the salad.
• Combine the tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, red onion, parsley and mint in a large bowl. Top with the lemon zest.
• Make the vinaigrette: In a separate mixing bowl, whisk the lemon juice, vinegar and 1/4 cup za'atar. Slice the preserved lemon into quarters; cut out and discard everything but the yellow peel. Finely chop the preserved lemon peel, then add to the bowl with the vinegar mixture. Whisk together, then slowly whisk in the olive oil. Season the salad with salt, then add some of the vinaigrette and toss. Top with the feta and remaining 1/4 cup za'atar.

SARMA (STUFFED CABBAGE)

Steps:

• Place cabbage in the freezer for a few days. The night before making the rolls, take it out to thaw.
• In a large bowl, combine the beef, pork, ham, rice, onion, egg, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix well. Form meat mixture into oblong balls, using 1/2 cup of the mixture at a time. Then, wrap a cabbage leaf around each ball.
• Spread the sauerkraut in the bottom of a large pot, then layer cabbage rolls on top, placing them seam-side down. Pour tomato juice over rolls, then add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 3 hours, adding more water as necessary.

SARMA HOT DISH

Steps:

• Cut your cabbage into small pieces and set aside.
• Cut bacon into small pieces (I slice down the middle of a piece and then chop it) and brown well.
• Remove the pieces of bacon and then brown your diced onion in the bacon grease (yes, use bacon fat).
• Remove your onions and brown your ground beef (this is all the same pan). Season the ground beef with salt, pepper, and garlic granules.
• Mix your meat, bacon pieces, and onions together.
• While you're doing the browning, have your rice cooking in the tomato juice, also make sure to use the salt, pepper, and garlic granules, to taste, in the rice pot. Cook rice until "almost" done (15-17 minutes).
• When your rice is done, add your meat mixture to the rice and mix together well.
• Now the layering process, in the following order going from bottom to top ... 1. 1/2 of the Cabbage 2. 1/2 of the Sauerkraut 3. 1/2 of the Meat/rice mixture. Repeat the layering one more time.
• Bake covered in a 350 degree oven for approximately 1-1/2 hours. If it seems dry, add some hot water around the edges BUT DO NOT STIR MIXTURE! (Usually it is not dry.)
• Note: I have doubled this in a large roasting pan for bigger crowds, or made two hot dishes(normal recipe amount fits into a 2.5-3 qt size hot dish). Also, depending on the cabbage size, I've not used the entire thing, just eyeball it while layering. You want nice coverage, but not so much that it is all you have, as the sauerkraut goes on top of that.

SERBIAN STUFFED CABBAGE (SARMA)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Steam the head of cabbage until the outer leaves are limp, then cool slightly and separate the leaves.
• With a paring knife, remove the tough ribs from the leaves without damaging them. Reserve the tougher outer leaves, but don't use for rolling.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the ground chuck, ground pork, rice, and onion soup mix.
• Adding a small amount of water will make the mixture easier to handle.
• Heap 2 tablespoons of filling onto each steamed, prepared cabbage leaf.
• Fold the bottom of the cabbage leaf up over the meat.
• Fold sides to the center and roll away from yourself to encase completely.
• Repeat until the meat filling is gone.
• Heat oven to 350 F.
• Discard the cabbage core and coarsely chop any remaining cabbage except the tough outer leaves you have reserved.
• Spread the chopped cabbage on the bottom of a large casserole dish or Dutch oven. Add the drained sauerkraut.
• Layer on the cabbage rolls, seam-side down.
• Cut the smoked ribs into pieces. Space the ribs or other smoked meat of choice between the cabbage rolls.
• Cover rolls with reserved tough outer leaves.
• Mix tomato sauce and soup with enough water to make a liquidy consistency.
• Pour over rolls until mixture is level with rolls, but not over the top.
• Cover the casserole dish and bake 1 hour.
• Then reduce temperature to 325 F and bake for 2 more hours.
• Let sit 20 to 30 minutes before serving.
• This dish freezes well.