Ouma onder die komberse

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When Clem Pedro was growing up, this traditional South African dish of meatballs wrapped in cabbage leaves was his all-time favourite dinner – and it still is! This version simplifies the process by using Woolies’ readymade tomato-and-onion braai relish as a cook-in sauce. Serve it with yellow rice. According to our TikTok community, it is also variously called Ou mense onder die komberse, aap in die kool blaar, Oupa se kouse, ou mate onder die komberse, padda onder die komberse.

Ingredients

500 g beef mince
2 T spice mix of your choice (harissa blend, garam masala or chimichurri blend)
1 T garlic powder or garlic flakes
1 T onion powder or onion flakes
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
70 g breadcrumbs
1 small cabbage, leaves separated
1 x 400 g can Woolworths tomato-and-onion braai relish
yellow rice, for serving
butter, for serving

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. In a large bowl, combine the mince, spice mix, garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper.

2. Add the breadcrumbs and combine, then set aside.

3. Place a few cabbage leaves at a time in a large saucepan of boiling water and blanch for a few seconds until the leaves become pliable. Remove from the water and repeat with the remaining leaves.

4. Shape the mince into equally sized balls, then wrap each ball in a cabbage leaf. Pour the braai relish into a baking dish, then tightly pack in the cabbage-wrapped mince.

5. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cabbage leaves are slightly charred, the sauce is bubbling and the meatballs are cooked through.

6. Serve the dish over steamed yellow rice seasoned with a little butter to add extra richness.

Cook's tip: According to our TikTok audience, this dish is also commonly cooked in a brown sauce made with beef stock. Other users suggested serving it with cucumber in vinegar and a variation with sago added into the sauce.

Find more TikTok recipes here.

Videography: Romy Wilson
Video editing: Katharine Pope
Photograph: Shavan Rahim

@wwtaste Ouma onder die komberse! Did you eat these magical cabbage-wrapped meatballs growing up? They were @clempedro.mancrave’s absolute favourite - and to be honest, they probably still are! Find the recipe on taste.co.za or at the link in bio. *Share your heritage memory or recipe with the hashtag #wwtasteheritage and you could win a R1000 @Woolworths SA voucher. *Find full details - and other ways to enter - on taste.co.za/win. No purchase required to win. Not sponsored, endorsed or administered by TikTok. #heritagemonth #heritageday ♬ Summer day - TimTaj