It seems like everyone in or near the Middle East wants to lay claim to the Dolma, or Tolma (as it’s pronounced in Armenian). Egypt, Turkey, Armenia, Lebanon and Greece are all in the running. I refuse to take a side, but I will say that this recipe for the stuffed grape leaves came from my Armenian friend Arev, and the mixture of meat, rather than vegetarian-friendly rice filling, is a little different than the standard fare.
The Arguably Armenian Dolma Recipe
Stuffing:
1 large onion-chopped in the food processor
1 ½ lb ground beef and pork (I mixed two)-if you grind your own meat, do it with the onion
¾ cup uncooked short grain rice
Chopped basil and dill, or mint and cilantro, to taste
Salt and pepper
1 peeled tomato, chopped (note: I never actually peel tomatoes or potatoes, far too lazy)
Directions
Mix the whole thing!
Buy canned grape leaves at a Mediterranean, Russian, Middle-Eastern or Armenian grocery store. Rinse the leaves to get rid of all the salt and pinch off the stems.
Place a leaf shiny side down, with the rough, veiny side up (this is actually a matter of debate – some people say the shiny side should be on the outside, others say the opposite), and fill with 1-2 Tablespoons of the meat mixture. If you’re working with home-grown smaller grape leaves, you might only be able to fit a teaspoonful.
Now Wrap (a video explains it best – note here it’s “Lebanese”)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0GnbJGQWKY?version=3]
In a wide, deep pot or Dutch oven, spread one Tablespoon of tomato paste on the bottom. Place the wrapped dolmas in the pot, seam-side down and close together so they support each other. You can layer them as many as 2-3 layers deep. Once they’re all in the pot, put a plate on them to press them down, so they sit still in one place while cooking. Add enough water to cover and bring to a gentle boil, simmering for about 30-45 minutes (until the rice is done).
Serve with: Lemon wedges &
Garlic Yogurt Sauce:
2 cups of plain yogurt
2-3 cloves of pressed garlic
Chopped dill to taste
Let it sit for 1 hour