Stuffed Grape Leaves(Dolma)

A Middle Eastern dish that typically consists of grape leaves stuffed with rice(optional mince meat)

Ingredients

Grape Leaves

For the Stuffing
-Short Grain Rice(Egyptian or Sushi Rice works)
-2 Minced Tomatoes
-Minced Parsley
-1 minced Small onion
-2 minced Garlic cloves
-Pomegranate molasses
-Olive Oil
-Freshly squeezed lemon juice(1 big lemon is enough)
-Minced Meat(Optional)

Directions

Step 1

Boil some water

Step 2

Mix the stuffing ingerdients together, make sure that the rice is just 1/3 of the mixture. For the pomegranate molasses three spoons is enough.

Step 3

Soak the grape leaves in the boilled water, drain them and stack them on a plate

Step 4

Now comes the fun part, rolling the grape leaves!

 

With shiny side down, cut any excess step, add a tea spon of the stuffing in the middle of the leaf and fold it and roll it, then place it in a seperate plate. That step might take a while but it's always fun!

Step 5

With some of the excess grape leave put few on the bottom of the cooking pan, then start placing the stuffed grape leaves into the pan.

Step 6

Add water to the pan, for two cups of short grain rice add five cups of water.

Step 7

Put the pan on the stove on high, then when the water starts boiling, put it down the lowest level and cover the pan, and wait till grape leaves and rice are fully cooked.

Step 8

Enjoy it with a side of Tzatziki.

 

In Egypt(where I originally come from), we served as a main dish, other countries they served as an appitizer dish. But honestly I alwasy see it as a main dish because 4-5 pieces is not enough for me :)