Stuffed grape leaves
Description
The dish is prepared without unnecessary complications. Use young grape leaves, about the size of a palm. Choose fatty meat for the filling to make the dolma more juicy. Instead of water, use broth for the sauce, if you have it ready. With this simple recipe, the dish is ready to be served.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
1. Make crosswise cuts on the tomatoes, pour boiling water over them and let sit for 2 minutes. Then peel the tomatoes and grate them on a fine grater. Add a pinch of basil and cumin to the tomato paste.
- 2
Step 2
2. Add the chopped garlic to the heated oil. When it becomes fragrant, add the onion, cut into thin half-rings or cubes, and season with pepper.
- 3
Step 3
3. Cut the bell pepper into cubes and add it to the pan with the onion when the onion starts to turn golden. Let it simmer over medium heat.
- 4
Step 4
4. Add a little oil to the second skillet, then add the shredded cabbage and let it simmer for a while.
- 5
Step 5
5. Transfer 3 tablespoons of fried onion and pepper to a separate bowl. Add cabbage to the skillet where they were cooked, and after a couple of minutes, add tomato paste. Also add bay leaf and 1 red chili pepper.
- 6
Step 6
6. Rinse the rice under running water, then add it to the skillet and pour in 0.5 cup of water. Add salt and simmer over low heat until the rice is cooked.
- 7
Step 7
7. Cut off the stems from the grape leaves, place the leaves in a container, and pour boiling water over them. Let them sit for 1 to 5 minutes. The leaves should change color and become soft. Drain the water.
- 8
Step 8
8. Mix the minced meat with the sauce, add salt.
- 9
Step 9
9. Place the grape leaf shiny side down. Each stuffed leaf will require one spoonful of filling. Roll the leaf the same way as when preparing regular stuffed cabbage rolls.
- 10
Step 10
10. Place a few cabbage leaves in a frying pan and sauté them slightly until they become a bit softer. Arrange them on the bottom of the dish in which the cabbage rolls will be simmered—this could be a casserole dish, a Dutch oven, or a deep skillet. Place the cabbage rolls into this dish.
- 11
Step 11
11. To prepare the sauce, take a glass of water, salt it, and add it to the previously set aside sautéed mixture. Add sour cream (of any fat content), mix everything well, and pour it into the pot with the cabbage rolls.
- 12
Step 12
12. Cabbage rolls can be simmered in the oven covered with a lid, or over medium heat on the stovetop (until the meat is cooked through). The result is very tasty, filling, and aromatic!