Stuffed vine leaves recipe ?

[Nature's Babe]

The grapes in the conservatory are almost ripe, and the leaves are lush and clean with no sign of mildew, does anyone have a good recipe for stuffed vine leaves please ?

[adam-alexander]

Hi NB - why not Google 'stuffed vine leaves' there are lots of recepies listed. All basically the same, stuff with onion, rice and / or lentils & herbs and some include meat such as lamb. Simmer or slow bake, in one layer in wine or stock. I'm sure you will find someting to your taste

[Nature's Babe]

Thank you Adam, yes but that way trial and error to find a good one. I was hoping someone could reommend a really tasy recipe. My partner eats meat and I don't, I could easily add in some lamb to a basic mix though. In wine sounds nice

[Kleftiwallah]

[*]Dolmades is what you want. I love 'em in Greece and have made my own using cabbage and chard leaves. 'Er indoors aint too keen. Cheers Tony.

[Nature's Babe]

Ah thank you Tony, I couldn;t remember the correct name for them it was ages ago when I had these in Kos..

[Colin_M]

Let us know how you get on, or if you're still having trouble.

It's very satisfying making Dolmades from your own vine leaves. However, much though I enjoy eating them, I don't look forward to making them with quite the same anticipation as I used to

If using fresh leaves, I was led to understand it was best to blanch them first and this indeed makes them easier to roll etc. However it's generally worth making a good panful at a time and my fingers were quite red after all the blanching (probably poor technique on my part).

I've also tried using the packaged vine leaves that are now getting easier to buy. Here, you seem to exchange blanching for having to wash the salt solution off them. Finally, I'd add that I find good vegetarian ones almost as tasty as the meat ones.

After all this doom and gloom, I think that when there's a nice gap without any interruptions, making dolmades can be quite a nice exercise. I look forward to getting the chance!!

[Tony Hague]

Hi NB, can I recommend to you:

http://www.greekrecipe.com

Lots of nice stuff there for philhellenes.

Filed under 'S' for stuffed, you will find recipies with or without meat. I haven't actually cooked Dolmades myself yet though.

You may also be interested in Yaprak (turkish version) or Holubtsi (Ukranian rice/meat wrapped in cabbage).