The Town Herald

The netpaper about Elftowners, by Elftowners, for Elftowners.

Stuffed Grape Leaves

written by [Kileaiya]

Serves : 8 people
Ingredients : 2 1/2 cups white rice
1 large bunch finely chopped dill
1 large bunch finely chopped parsley 15 cloves of sliced garlic
1 can (15 oz) of tomato sauce or 2 lbs of freshly crushed tomatoes
2 medium onions finely chopped
2/3 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1/3 cup butter
Salt and pepper for taste
1 lb –grape-leaves-jar, de-stemmed and rinsed
1 lb of ground beef/lamb (optional)

Put on tablespoon of butter in a pan and sauté one chopped onion for a minute
Add the ground meat and half a cup of water and bring to a boil. Cook until most of the water is absorbed, stirring frequently.
Simmer for 20 minutes or until the meat completely is cooked.
Mix the cooked ground meat, rice, dill, parsley, tomato sauce, and remaining onion, 1/3 cup of the lemon juice, butter, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
Lay 4 or 5 grape leaves flat on the bottom of a flat pot to prevent burning the stuffed leaves. Lay the grape leaf shiny side down.
Add a large teaspoon of rice mixture in the center near the stem end and roll to the end of the leaf.
Start folding in the sides and continue to roll keeping stuffing secured inside.
Lay the end of the roll down in the pot. Repeat until all stuffed grape leaves are side by side close together, to keep them from opening during cooking. You can place up to 4 layers.
Pour over leaves the rest of the lemon juice, garlic and enough water to reach top layer.
Bring to a boil and cook on high heat for about 10 to 15 minutes or until almost all water is absorbed. Continue cooking on a very low heat for about 45 minutes or until the rice mixture inside the leaves is cooked.
Remove from burner.
Using a spoon, you can layer the stuffed grape leaves on a platter.


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