Stuffedvineleaves
Serves 6–8
2 tbsp olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jar (approx 220g) vine leaves in
brine (2 jars, if the leaves are small)
185g long grain rice
4 spring onions, finely chopped
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh dill
2 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf
parsley
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh mint
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp allspice
3 tbsp toasted pinenuts
3 tbsp raisins
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp freshly ground pepper
160ml extra virgin olive oil
80ml lemon juice
160ml water
1 tsp sugar
1 Heat a large skillet for 20 seconds,
then add 2 tbsp of olive oil. Once hot,
add the onion and sweat for 5 mins.
Add garlic and fry until onions are
golden. Decant into a mixing bowl.
2 Soak the separated vine leaves in a
bowl of warm water for 5 mins.
3 Add rice, spring onions, chopped
herbs, spices, pine nuts and raisins to
the cooked onions. Season with salt
and pepper and stir to combine.
4 Remove the leaves from the bowl
of water and rinse under cold tap.
Separate leaves and place shiny side
down on a board. If small, place two
together, overlapping at the stem.
5 Place 2 tsp of the rice mix near the
stem end of the leaves and roll up the
leaf once to cover the filling. Fold in
both sides of the leaf and then tightly
roll the leaf up toward the tip.
6 To stop the rolls sticking, place
some broken vine leaves or lettuce
leaves in the bottom of a large pan or
casserole (approx 4 litres), and then
arrange the rolls on top, seam side
down. Repeat with the remaining
IDEAL STARTER: AN
EXPLOSION OF LEMONY,
HERBY RICE
leaves and filling, piling the rolls on
top of each other as necessary.
7 Combine the olive oil, lemon juice,
water and sugar and pour over rolls.
8 Place a weight (a heavy plate will
do) on top of the rolls and simmer,
covered, for 40 mins. Check the liquid
hasn’t boiled away; if it has, add 100ml
water and cook for a further 10 mins.
9 Cook for a total of 50 mins, or
until the rice in the rolls is tender.
Cool for about 1 hour, then remove
the rolls from the pot. Serve cool or
at room temperature.LIVING (^) | GATHERING
MENU
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