Question to the Greeks

[Philosopher]

There is a traditional dish in the Balkans called "sarma". In Greek, it is called "sarmades". In Macedonia, we ferment cabbage in water and salt for months and then use the cabbage leaves for stuffing rice, meat, et al. Eastern Europeans and central Europeans prepare this dish differently. They do not ferment the cabbage first.

How is this cabbage dish prepared in Greece? Is it prepared differently in different regions of Greece (north, central, south, islands)?

Anyone know?

[Dejan]

You sure it's not called 'sar-madina' in Greece?

[lavce pelagonski]

Dejan if there was a like button I would have liked your post.

[Nikolaj]

I had a Serbian friend in high school. I can safely tell you now, their Sarma looks very, very different..

[Bill77]

What is more traditional in Greece is vines used instead of Cabbage.
I'm not sure if its completely different dish altogether.

But I do know I've came across this vine dish in Turkish restaurants aswell.
Now I suppose its that chicken or the egg question.

[DraganOfStip]

What is more traditional in Greece is vines used instead of Cabbage.
I'm not sure if its completely different dish altogether.

But I do know I've came across this vine dish in Turkish restaurants aswell.
Now I suppose its that chicken or the egg question.

I don't know how long you haven't been to the republic Bill,but vine-leaf sarma isn't just served in Turkey and Greece,but iit's very common in Macedonia too.
Especially in the summer period when vine leafs are widely spread.
In my hometown of Stip we only use the cabbage leafs to make sarma in winter,while in summer everyone makes sarma using vine leafs.
The filling (at least in Stip) is a blend of rice and minced meat,seasoned with carrots,onions,parsley and salt/pepper by need.
And with a bit of yogurt,sour cream or even a traditional Macedonian "kiselo mleko" on the side (or on top) - this dish is magnificent.
Oh,my stomach started howling already...






P.S.: Some even use chard as a replacement for vine leafs.Tasty as well
Here are some examples of chard sarma (also goes well with kiselo mleko):

[Bill77]

Ive never tried it as my mother never made it.
After all, It might not be foreign in Macedonia, but it's foreign to my stomach.

[DraganOfStip]

Ive never tried it as my mother never made it.
After all, It might not be foreign in Macedonia, but it's foreign to my stomach.

You should introduce your stomach to vine-leaf sarma then,once you do I belive you won't even look at the fermented cabage-leaf one (it gives me stomach acid burning sensation from the fermentation,so I'm not particularly fond of it,I usually only eat the filling).
It won't be exaggeration to say it's my favorite dish ever.Pizza-schmizza,burger-murger,vine-leaf sarma is the real deal.

I think you can also find some recipes online,do try it,you don't know what you're missing.And kiselo mleko/yogurt/sour cream only enhances the flavor.
Yummy...

[Philosopher]

Grape leaf "sarma" is a very common dish in Macedonia, but it is not the same as the cabbage leaf sarma.

Grape leaves are very high calcium and Omega 3 fatty acids.

[DraganOfStip]

Grape leaf "sarma" is a very common dish in Macedonia, but it is not the same as the cabbage leaf sarma.

Grape leaves are very high calcium and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Man,I sure wish there was a "Like" button here.
Bill,here are a couple of recipies for you,it's not hard to prepare and the taste is amazing.

http://moirecepti.mk/post/%D1%81%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%BE-%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82/

http://off.net.mk/mojata-kujna/glavni-jadenja/sarmi-od-vinova-loza

http://moirecepti.mk/post/%D1%81%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B0-%D0%BE%D0%B4-%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82/

[chalky333]

my mother is making me cabge leve dish tomorrow love this dish but she does it in a redish sours and for a side dish tomatoes and onion in oil il post some pics up tomorrow sorry for my spelling

[George S.]

chalky welcome to our forum.The thread says question to the greeks??A cabbage dish???
How is that a question???relevancy?? of food?JUst out of curosity that must be Sarma thats why you use cabbage leaves that have been pickled with salt.We don't use vine leavesIt'sa ood of the GODS.I'm getting hungry as we talk.

[spitfire]

Lahanodolmathes is mostly known as in Greece. From the greek word "Lahano" which means cabbage and the turkish word "dolma" which means stuffed vegetable.
It is also known as "sarmathes" but not in all regions. Recipes vary as usual.

[Philosopher]

Lahanodolmathes is mostly known as in Greece. From the greek word "Lahano" which means cabbage and the turkish word "dolma" which means stuffed vegetable.
It is also known as "sarmathes" but not in all regions. Recipes vary as usual.

How do you know? Are you Greek?

[spitfire]

How do you know? Are you Greek?

Isn't it obvious?

Ooops, no it isn't, forgot to put an address. You got me

EDIT: Fixed.