Dolma Recipe 385

DOLMAS (STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Saute onions until tender. Stir in rice and hot water to cover. Cover and simmer until rice is half cooked, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in tomato paste, currants, pine nuts, cinnamon, mint leaves, dill weed, allspice and cumin. Let mixture cool.
• Prepare a large pot by placing an inverted plate on the bottom; this protects the dolmas from direct heat when steaming.
• Rinse grape leaves in warm water; drain and cut off any stems. Place about 1 teaspoon of the cooled rice mixture in the center of a leaf. Fold in the sides and then roll into a cigar shape. Place in prepared pot. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
• Pour in just enough warm water to reach the bottom of the first layer of dolmas. Cover and simmer over low heat for 30 to 45 minutes, or until rice is totally cooked. Check the water level often and add more as necessary.

DOLMAS (STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES) RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Gently remove the grape leaves from their jar, then rinse each thoroughly under cold water, taking care not to rip the leaves. Pat the leaves dry and place on a cutting board.
• Using a small, sharp paring knife, remove the stems from the leaves.
• Cover with a paper towel and set aside.
• In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil, adding the onion, garlic, parsley, and basil once the oil is hot. Stir continuously until the onion is soft and fragrant, about 6 minutes.
• Add the rice and pine nuts (if using) and sauté, stirring often, for 3 to 4 minutes longer.
• Add 4 cups of the vegetable broth and bring to a low boil. Turn down the heat to low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the rice is cooked, adding water if necessary.
• Add 1/3 cup of the lemon juice , stirring well to combine, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes longer or until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Remove the pan from heat.
• Prepare a dry, clean workspace. Place one of the grape leaves, shiny side down, flat on your work surface. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of filling on the lower-middle portion of the leaf, right above where the stem used to be.
• Fold in the sides of the leaves over the center.
• Then roll the bottom of the leaf over the filling and continue to roll, holding the sides in, until you've rolled the dolma completely and no filling is visible.
• Place the dolma seam-side down in a large saucepan or pot that's big enough to fit all of the dolmas in a single layer.
• Repeat until all of the grape leaves are used, placing one dolma directly next to the other and leaving no space in between.
• Drizzle another 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the dolmas, followed by the remaining lemon juice.
• Pour the remaining 4 cups of vegetable broth over the grape leaves to cover.
• Cover the pot and simmer over medium-low heat for 1 hour (do not boil). Add water as necessary to keep grape leaves covered.
• Remove the pan from the heat, uncover, and let the dolmas cool in the liquid for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, gently transfer the dolmas to a serving dish. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice and serve cold or at room temperature.

DOLMAS

Steps:

• Mix together the beef, lamb, rice, olive oil, salt, mint, parsley, pepper, oregano and onions. This is the filling. Next, rinse the grape leaves and separate in a colander. Place 2 to 3 grape leaves stem-side up on a work station; they should overlap each other. Place desired amount of filling in the center and roll, folding in the sides. Repeat with the remaining grape leaves and filling. Arrange tightly together in a stockpot. Once the stockpot is full, cut the lemons in half and put on top. Cover with beef stock and simmer until the rice is soft, 30 to 45 minutes.

DOLMAS

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Score stem end of tomato with an X. Add to water, and cook for 5 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer tomato to ice-water bath. Using your fingers, peel tomato, then cut in half. Discard seeds, and chop finely.
• Rinse the stack of grape leaves under cold water, and transfer to a bowl. Cover the leaves with cold water by 2 inches, and let stand for 10 minutes. Drain.
• In a bowl, combine beef, rice, onion, garlic, herbs, oil, lemon juice, cumin, salt, pepper, and chopped tomato.
• Carefully separate grape leaves. Place 1 on a work surface, vein side up and stem end close to you. Cut off stem. Place 1 heaping tablespoon meat mixture on center of bottom half of leaf. Fold up stem end of leaf to cover mixture, and fold in sides. Roll tightly using rest of leaf. Repeat for a total of 36 dolmas.
• Place rolls, seam side down, in a large saucepan in a single snug layer. Add stock to cover, and arrange remaining 9 grape leaves over the top. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Place a heatproof plate directly on dolmas to keep them submerged. Cover saucepan with a lid, and simmer until cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer dolmas to a plate, and let cool 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2 hours (or overnight).
• Serve cold or at room temperature with a drizzle of oil, and place lemon wedges on the side.

DOLMA (MEAT-FILLED)

Steps:

• Combine meat with olive oil, onion, herbs, rice and season generously.
• Line the pot you will be cooking your dolma in with a couple of layers of torn grape leaves (to prevent the dolma from being scorched while cooking).
• Place a grape leaf, shiny side down, on surface in front of you.
• If the stem is quite thick, cut it out with a knife, making a V.
• Pinch off about a teaspoon of the meat filling and place in the centre of the leaf.
• Fold in sides of leaf and roll up, not too loose and not too tight (allowing a bit for the expansion of the rice as it cooks), into neat little packets.
• Place neatly in pot and continue making dolma until you've used up all your meat mixture.
• Pour lemon juice over and cover dolma with boiling water, covering dolma with about 1/2 inch of water.
• Weight down with a plate and put lid on pot.
• Cook at a gentle simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until rice is tender.
• Carefully remove dolma, and place in a heatproof platter.
• Make Egg-Lemon Sauce (Avgolemono).
• Beat the eggs with the lemon juice and corn flour.
• Slowly dribble in hot stock left from cooking dolma, whisking egg mixture constantly.
• Keep adding hot liquid slowly, whisking, to temper the eggs.
• Pour the egg mixture into the pot with the remaining stock and whisk over a medium-low heat until sauce has thickened.
• Pour sauce over your dolma and enjoy!