Dolmades: Stuffed Grape Leaves
- 20 large grape leaves from a jar, available in some supermarkets and most specialty food shops
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/2 cup long-grain rice
- 3 tablespoons currants
- 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 3/4 cups chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Rinse each of the grape leaves well, snip off the stems and pat dry.
- Set aside, stacked on a plate and covered with plastic wrap.
- In a skillet heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over moderate and cook the onion until soft.
- Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add the cinnamon stick and the rice, stirring to coat and combine.
- Stir in the currants, pine nuts, mint, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup of the chicken stock.
- Bring to a simmer and cook until all of the liquid is evaporated, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the skillet from the heat, remove the cinnamon stick and discard.
- Allow to cool completely.
- Place a grape leaf smooth side down with the stem end toward you on the work surface.
- Place a tablespoon of the cooled rice filling near the stem end and fold in the sides of the leaf over the filling.
- Beginning with the stem end roll up the leaf, not too tightly because the rice will continue to absorb liquid and expand in the next cooking step.
- Repeat process for remaining grape leaves.
- Transfer the dolmades to a skillet just large enough to contain all of the dolmades in a single layer.
- In a bowl combine the remaining chicken stock and olive oil with the lemon juice.
- Pour the liquid over the dolmades, adding additional water if necessary to just barely cover with liquid.
- Bring the liquid to a simmer and cook, covered, until tender when pierced with fork, about 30 minutes.
- Remove skillet from heat, uncover and allow to cool.
- Serve warm, at room temperature or cool.
grape, olive oil, onion, garlic, cinnamon, longgrain rice, currants, nuts, fresh mint, salt, chicken stock, lemon juice
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dolmades-stuffed-grape-leaves-recipe.html (may not work)