Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmades) Recipe

recipetips.com - Grape leaves rolled around a filling are traditional food in many Mediterranean cultures, where this food has a different name in each country. Try them and you will understand why they are so widely enjoyed. Although this recipe is somewhat labor-intensive, it is not difficult and can be lots of fun as a family project, especially if this includes gathering wild grape leaves. Can be made ahead and refrigerated. Return to room temperature to serve.
Ingredients
  • 48 grape leaves, fresh or brined
  • 2 cups rice, short grain or sushi
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 cup raisins, preferably golden raisins
  • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
  • 2 teaspoons dried mint
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lemon
Change Servings
Prep Time
1 hour
Cook Time
1 hour
Total Time
2 hours
Container: streamer (can be improvised)
Serving Description: 4 packets
Directions
  • Put rice, water, salt, raisins and mint in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer, cover, and cook until water is absorbed and rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in the sunflower seeds.
  • Meanwhile, prepare the grape leaves. If using fresh leaves, blanche in boiling salted water for 3 or 4 minutes, drain and cool. If using brined leaves, rinse well, blanche in boiling unsalted water for 3 minutes, drain and cool.
  • TO FILL THE LEAVES: place a leaf, shiny side down, on the work surface and put about 1 tablespoon of rice mixture near the stem end (trim off any stems with a sharp scissors). The actual amount will vary with the size of the leaf--experiment with the first ones to find the ideal amount. Fold the stem end of the leaf over the filling  (doesn't have to cover filling), then fold each side over the filling and roll towards the tip. Put the filled packet into the steamer, seam side down. ( See TIP for an improvised steamer.) Repeat until all leaves are filled.
  • Set the streamer over a pot of briskly boiling water, cover tightly, and steam for about an hour, checking occasionally to make sure the water hasn't boiled away. Sample one to see if leaf is tender. Older leaves may need to steam longer.
  • Cut the lemon in half. Juice one half and thinly slice the other. Mix lemon juice and olive oil. When grape leaves are done, sprinkle or brush with oil-lemon mixture. Scatter the slices over the packets and serve at room temperature.
  • TIP: To improvise a steamer, use a collander, mesh strainer or other perforated container that can be  suspended in a pan over--not in--several inches of water. Cover with a snug fitting lid or aluminum foil.

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Cooking Tips & Advice
Fresh spinach leaves should be green in color with no brown spots. Spinach leaves are an incredibly versatile vegetable with many delicious uses. Selecting, preparing, and even growing your own fresh spinach leaves can be a simple task that results in a healthy nutritious addition to any meal.
Stuffed Peppers Begin by cutting a circle around the stem of the pepper. Carefully pull out the stem and ribs. Remove the remaining ribs by scraping with a spoon. Wash the pepper in cold running water to remove any remaining seeds.
Stuffed Mushrooms Slice off the stem of a whole, clean, mushroom. With a small teaspoon (1/8 or 1/4 teaspoon), or small melon baller, scoop out the inside of the mushroom. Fill with prepared stuffing or favorite dip.
Stuffed Tomatoes Slice off the top of the tomato. With a small teaspoon (1/8 or 1/4 teaspoon), or small melon baller, scoop out the inside of the tomato. Fill with prepared stuffing or favorite dip.
Stuffed pasta consists of fresh pasta sheets that are stuffed with a filling. After the filling has been added, the pasta sheets are folded over and sealed, or another sheet is placed on top and the edges are sealed.
When making stuffed pasta, the pasta dough should be rolled thinner than when making other pasta because the stuffed pasta requires two layers. Using thinner layers will prevent the edges of the stuffed pasta from becoming too thick.
Glossary Terms
Leaves obtained from grape vines and served as edible leaves to wrap ingredients for cooking. They are commonly used in Greek and Middle Eastern dishes, where they are often referred to as "dolmas.
The blended vinification of various grape varietals for the purpose of creating a single wine. Also indicates a wine produced by the process of “assemblage”.
A variety of grape that is grown in clusters that produce very small diameter grapes. It is a seedless grape that provides a very sweet flavor for salads, appetizers or as a snack with cheese.
A variety of grape that is smaller in size and less meaty than other varieties. The Concord grape has a dark purple to almost black thicker skin that covers a jelly-like inner meat, which can be squeezed out from the skin.
A variety of tomato that is small and round and most often used whole in salads or as a snack food and appetizer.
A very small variety of grape that usually grows to no more than 1/4" in diameter. It is seedless and the flavor is very sweet.
A type of grape used for the production of wine. It is native to Italy, but is widely grown in California.
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