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An overhead view of a clay pot full of slow roasted sauerkraut with browned sausages on top.
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Romanian Slow Roasted Caramelized Cabbage

This Romanian style slow roasted caramelized cabbage is the caramelized onion of the cabbage world. It's sweet, spicy, smokey, tangy, and full of complex flavours. Through the magic of slow roasting, plain cabbage is transformed into a decadent comfort food that can be served over polenta, in a bun, with potatoes, or even with noodles.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Romanian, Slow Cooking
Keyword Romanian, Slow Cooked
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 201kcal

Ingredients

  • ½ head cabbage sliced into thin strips
  • 500 grams sauerkraut well drained
  • 7 medium sized tomatoes diced
  • 1 carrot sliced
  • 3 yellow onions finely diced (or substitute other onions)
  • 8 cloves garlic sliced
  • 1 tablespoon red chilli pepper with seeds sliced thinly
  • 1 tablespoon dried summer savory or substitute dried thyme
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • 1.5 tablespoons smoked paprika
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 handful fresh thyme or substitute dried thyme or more dried summer savoury

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 225 C / 440 F.
  • Prepare the vegetables
    Finely slice the fresh cabbage and thoroughly the drain fermented cabbage if using both; roughly dice tomatoes, peel and slice the carrot, finely slice the hot pepper, peel and finely dice the onions, and slice the garlic cloves.
  • Add the vegetables, salt and oil to a large bowl and massage
    Add all the vegetables to a large bowl, sprinkle salt first and then add the oil and massage - crunching the cabbage in your hands to break down the vegetable fibers.
  • Add the herbs and spices
    Put the fresh thyme leaves in the bottom of your baking dish (or do the same with 1 teaspoon of dried thyme) and add the smoked paprika, summer savoury, black pepper and bay leaves to the vegetables. Mix with your hands or utensils.
  • Roast on high 30 minutes
    Add everything to your baking dish and roast uncovered for 30 minutes.
  • Reduce heat and slow cook
    Reduce heat to 160 C / 320 F, cover with a lid and roast another 2.5 - 3 hours. Check at the halfway mark and stir the mixture well.

Notes

This recipe and the nutritional values indicated are just for the caramelized cabbage. If you want to add a protein, you can add it either at the beginning or near the end of cooking depending on what it is. Sausages, bacon and other smoked meat can be added near the beginning, whereas chicken and veggie proteins may be better suited to go in near the end so they don't dry out.