Stuffed Grape Leaves (without meat)
By sherryl61
Note: I use chicken stock instead of water sometimes for richer flavor. Also you can add whole garlic cloves and sliced lemons to the water or additional lemon juice for a brighter flavor. I also make these on the stove, simmering for about 45 minutes - 1 hour if I want to keep the house cooler.
Ingredients
- 2 large onions, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 head garlic
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup white rice
- 1/4 cup chopped dill
- 1 (16-ounce) jar grape leaves
- 1 cup pine nuts (optional)
Details
Servings 20
Preparation time 30mins
Cooking time 8mins
Adapted from foodnetwork.com
Preparation
Step 1
Put the onions and oil in a skillet and cook over medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. While the onions cook, peel the garlic cloves and mash them to a paste in a mortar and pestle. Add this to the pan along with the tomato, lemon juice, tomato paste, and salt and pepper to taste. If using pine nuts, add at this point. Cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in the rice. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the dill. Set aside to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.
While this is cooling, drain the grape leaves and carefully pull them apart. Put them into a bowl and cover them with cold water. Let them soak until you are ready to roll. Also, trim the stems from the leaves prior to using with a sharp knife.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Place a grape leaf on your work surface, shiny side down. Add 1 tablespoon of the rice mixture to the middle of the grape leaf. Fold the sides over the rice and roll the leaf into a small log shape, about the size of a thumb. (I have a dolmade roller which makes it much quicker). Repeat with the remaining rice, placing the stuffed leaves into a 9 by 9-inch baking dish. When the dish is full, cover the stuffed leaves with several layers of flat grape leaves and pour in 1 cup of water. Cover and bake for 1 hour. Let cool to room temperature and refrigerate. Serve cool.
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