Recipes

Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmades)

  • Serves

    makes about 30

PENNY DE LOS SANTOS

This meze of stuffed grape leaves is served with a cucumber-yogurt sauce.

Ingredients

  • 1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, and grated
  • 12 tsp. kosher salt, plus more
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt
  • Freshly ground black pepper, 
to taste
  • 5 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tbsp. minced fennel
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 12 medium red onion, minced
  • 12 cup basmati rice
  • 12 tsp. ground cumin
  • 14 cup minced fresh dill
  • 14 cup minced fresh parsley
  • 34 tsp. dried mint
  • 34 grape leaves in brine, drained
  • 14 cup fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Step 1

Put cucumber in a strainer and sprinkle with 1⁄2 tsp. salt; toss; let sit 30 minutes. Squeeze out liquid; mix with yogurt in a bowl. Season sauce with salt and pepper; chill.

Step 2

Heat 2 tbsp. oil in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat. Add fennel, garlic, and onions; cook until soft, 3–4 minutes. Add rice; toast for 3 minutes. Add cumin and 1 1⁄2 cups water; season with salt and pepper. Boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until rice has absorbed water, 12–15 minutes. Stir in 1 tbsp. oil along with dill, parsley, and mint. Let cool slightly.

Step 3

Coat bottom of a 3-qt. saucepan with remaining oil and 3 tbsp. water; cover with 4 grape leaves. Set remaining grape leaves on a work surface, vein side up. Working with one leaf at a time, flatten leaf and place about 
1 1⁄2 tsp. rice mixture in center. Fold bottom of leaf over filling, fold in sides, and roll into tight cylinder. Transfer, seam side down, to pot. Repeat. Add lemon juice and 3⁄4 cup water to pot. Cover grape leaves with a small plate to keep submerged; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until rice filling is tender, 15–20 minutes. Serve hot or cold with the yogurt sauce.

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