Zlata Petrović shares her slow-cooked recipe for a traditional Serbian wedding cabbage dish

Singer Zlata Petrović is associated with a traditional dish that rewards patience: svadbarski kupus, or Serbian wedding cabbage. The hearty meal combines sauerkraut, several kinds of meat and seasoning, then cooks slowly until the flavors come together. Petrović’s recipe offers a home-style approach to a dish often served at family gatherings. To begin, cut the sauerkraut into large pieces and prepare the meat. The recipe calls for pork and beef, along with smoked ribs. Add a little pork fat to a large pot or earthenware vessel, then arrange the ingredients in layers, starting with cabbage and alternating it with pieces of meat. Chopped onion, bay leaf, paprika and pepper go into the pot as the layers are built. Keep adding ingredients until they are used up, finishing with a layer of cabbage. Pour in a small amount of water, cover the pot and let everything simmer over low heat. The dish needs several hours on the stove, according to the recipe, until the meat is tender and the ingredients have melded. Check the liquid from time to time and add a little water if needed. The emphasis is on a gentle, unhurried cook rather than rushing the process. Serve the cabbage hot, with homemade bread and, if desired, a hot pepper on the side. Petrović’s recipe presents it as a filling, familiar meal that families can return to, especially when there is time to let the pot slowly do its work.