Dolmades, Greek stuffed vine leaves
Vine leaves stuffed with rice and herbs. A Greek specialty!
Servings: 100 dolmades
Equipment
- large sauce pot
- large bowls
Ingredients
- 125 vine leaves
- 1/2 cup finely chopped dill
- 1 cup finely chopped mint
- 1/2 cup finely chopped flat leaf parsley
- 10 large spring (green) onions, finely chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cups (390 grams) uncooked long grain rice, rinsed
- 2 eggs optional
- 6 tbsp (90 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) Greek olive oil
For cooking:
- 3 tbsp (45 mL) Greek olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the sauce:
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 tbsp all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Prepare your vine leaves. Whether your vine leaves are fresh or brined, wash them well. Keep to the side any leaves which are severely torn.
- If you are using fresh vine leaves (as our parents do), bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add your vine leaves into the pot and boil them for about a minute or two. Your vine leaves are ready when they have changed colour from a vibrant fresh green to more of a khaki, or olive green (pictured above). Drain your vine leaves, and drop them immediately into a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process, and to cool them. Once they have cooled, drain them in a large colander. They will likely be a jumbled up mess at this point. Take each vine leaf individually, open it up, and stack them, one on top of the other, onto a dish.
- Prepare your filling. In a large bowl combine the dill, mint, parsley, spring onions, yellow onion, rice, eggs, 6 tablespoons (90 ml) of lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt, pepper and the 1/2 cup (125 ml) of olive oil. Mix well until thoroughly combined.1/2 cup finely chopped dill, 1 cup finely chopped mint, 1/2 cup finely chopped flat leaf parsley, 10 large spring (green) onions, finely chopped, 1 medium yellow onion, chopped, 2 cups (390 grams) uncooked long grain rice, rinsed, 2 eggs, 6 tbsp (90 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 cup (125 mL) Greek olive oil
- Now you are ready to wrap! Take your vine leaf and lay it on a plate in front of you, rib side up and with the stem end (you will have removed the stem) down toward you. Drop a teaspoonful of filling near the stem end. Begin wrapping as pictured above, first folding up, then folding in one side, and then the other. Continue this way until you have a tight, taut roll. After each one, examine it to ensure that you do not see any filling poking through. If you do, unwrap, and repeat.
- When your filling is all used up, if you still have vine leaves left over, you can freeze them for future use by rolling them tightly together and wrapping them in plastic wrap (see Helpful Hints above). Place them in a freezer bag and when you are ready to use them, defrost them overnight in the refrigerator.
- Take a pot which is large enough to hold your dolmades. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil to the bottom of the pot and line it with vine leaves (if you have any which are torn, this is a good place to use them).3 tbsp (45 mL) Greek olive oil
- Place your dolmades in the pot, arranging them so that they are snug. You will layer them one on top of the other. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt.1/4 teaspoon salt
- Boil enough water in a separate pot or kettle. As soon as the water has boiled, pour it into your pot with the dolmades. You will need enough boiling water so that the dolmades are completely, and just barely, covered.
- Take a heat-proof plate, which is slightly smaller than the circumference of your pot, and lay the plate on top of the dolmades. Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil. When the water has come to a boil, lower the heat to a medium low and cook for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Periodically check on your dolmades to ensure that they are still covered with water. If they are not, boil some more water in a kettle, and add to the pot to cover the dolmades.
- Check your dolmades for doneness by tasting them. They are ready when the rice is cooked.
- Remove from heat. In a small bowl mix together 1/4 cup (60 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1/2 tablespoon flour. Mix with about 1/2 cup (125 ml) water from the pot. Mix well until not lumpy, and pour this over the dolmades. Gently shake the pot so that the lemon mixture coats all the dolmades.1/4 cup (60 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1/2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- Dolmades are best served at room temperature. Serve with lemon wedges.
- Enjoy!