Dolmades are grape leaves that are stuffed with various ingredients. I had never eaten grape leaves before and the idea of stuffing them with a tasty filling sounded really good. I have been wanting to try making them ever since I saw Peter’s dolmades post. I recently came across a jar of grape leaves and the dolmades quickly made it to my meal plan.
I had a bit of trouble getting the grape leaves out of the jar as they were packed in so tightly but after that they were fairly easy to work with. I covered the grape leaves in boiling water to make sure that they were tender. (You could also boil them briefly.) I also rinsed them a few times to remove any salt from the packing liquid. The grape leaves that I got had their stems removed so that was one less step that I had to do.
Overall the dolmades were pretty easy to make though it took a bit of time to stuff all of them. They turned out pretty well. One of the reasons that I really enjoy Greek cuisine is because it commonly includes lots of mint and dill which are two of my favorite herbs. With the herbs, feta and avgolemono sauce the dolmades were really tasty! The grape leaves themselves were nice and I look forward to using them again.
Dolmades (Stuffed Grape Leaves)
ingredients
- 1 jar grape leaves
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 1 pound lean ground beef (or lamb)
- 1/2 cup Arborio rice
- 1/4 cup tomato puree
- 1/2 cup feta (crumbled)
- 1 lemon (zest)
- 1 bunch of green onions (sliced)
- 1/4 cup dill (chopped)
- 1/4 cup mint (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- * chicken stock
- 2 eggs
- 1 lemon (juice)
directions
- Separate the grape leaves and place them in a large bowl.
- Cover the grape leaves in boiling water and let soak for 20 minutes.
- Drain the water and rinse the leaves a few times.
- Heat the oil in a pan.
- Add the onion and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Mix the onions, garlic, ground beef, rice, tomato puree, feta, lemon zest, green onions, dill, mint salt and pepper in a large bowl.
- Place a grape leaf on a flat surface with the vein side up.
- Place a tablespoon of filling in the middle of the leaf and fold the sides over the filling and roll the leaf up. (See Peter’s post for some good step by step photos showing how to fold the grape leaves.) Repeat until all of the filling is used up.
- Place stuffed grape leaves into a baking dish in layers and just cover with chicken stock.
- Bake in a 375F/190C oven for about 1 hour.
- Whisk the eggs in bowl over a small pan of simmering water until frothy, about 3 minutes.
- Slowly pour in the lemon juice while whisking.
- Add some of the liquid from the baking dish and continue whisking until it thickens.
- Mix most of the avgolemeno sauce into the dish with the dolmades reserving some for garnish.
- Serve the dolmades garnished with the reserved avgolemeno sauce and some chopped dill and or mint.
Lahanodolmades (Stuffed Cabbage)
Kolokithakia Gemista (Stuffed Courgettes)
Lamb Exohiko (Lamb Stuffed Phyllo Parcels)
Ramona says
March 25, 2008 at 11:23 pmI love lemon sauce! In fact, I just made some last night to go over shrimp. Thank you for entering this recipe into Weekend Herb Blogging.
Cheers,
Ramona
The Houndstooth Gourmet
noble pig says
March 26, 2008 at 12:21 amOh the lemon sauce sounds great. I love these guys, always the perfect addition to a meal.
Randi says
March 26, 2008 at 1:01 amseems everyone is trying pete’s awesome recipe. i gotta get me some grape leaves 🙂
Elly says
March 26, 2008 at 1:09 amLooks delicious as always, Kevin!
Kalyn says
March 26, 2008 at 1:37 amYour photos are really getting better and better. I do love Dolmades, but never made them myself. Sounds delicious!
Gloria says
March 26, 2008 at 1:39 amKevin, looks really,really delicious, I make a Libaneses stuffed grapes but different to this, I like these. Gloria
Patsyk says
March 26, 2008 at 1:54 amI’ve had stuffed grape leaves only a couple of times, but I must say your photo really makes me want to have them again! I may just have to try to make them since you made it sound so simple.
Beth G. says
March 26, 2008 at 2:15 amThat sounds (and looks) DIVINE!
Steph says
March 26, 2008 at 2:59 amWow, this looks really tasty! Great recipe! Beautiful photo!!!
Kitt says
March 26, 2008 at 3:22 amLovely! I heart dolmades.
There must be dolmades love in the air lately. Have you seen White on Rice Couple’s version posted last week?
LisaRene says
March 26, 2008 at 4:55 amNice job! I love finger foods but have yet to make dolmades. I purchase them often at my local health food store and enjoy them cold for lunch, yum!
So many Americans only use fresh herbs as a garnish, just a tablespoon here and there, which is too bad. I’m with you, I love my fresh herbs and lots of them!
sher says
March 26, 2008 at 6:47 amOh, applause applause! Those little darlings are calling to me. They know how adorable and delicious they are!
Pixie says
March 26, 2008 at 7:32 amWell done on making dolmades- I bet they didn’t last long!
Laura @ Hungry and Frozen says
March 26, 2008 at 7:40 amThey certainly look worth the effort. Gorgeous photo!
tigerfish says
March 26, 2008 at 9:10 amI have not tasted Dolmades before. They look so pretty to be eaten 🙂
The Culinary Chase says
March 26, 2008 at 9:11 amKevin, I love Greek food & this dish is something I’d like to try! Did you have to wash the grape leaves? I have purchased before but found the brine really salty. Cheers!
Christie says
March 26, 2008 at 9:15 amThis makes me miss my Lebanese grandma soooo much! Hers were the best in the world and she sneakily took the recipe to the grave, bless her. I love the lemon sauce addition, really freshens them up.
Kevin says
March 26, 2008 at 10:35 amThe Culinary Chase: Yes I rinsed the grape leaves a few times with water.
Peter M says
March 26, 2008 at 11:07 amKevin, bravo! Yesterday you hit a grand slam with the Baklava and now the dolmades!
They look wonderful, I can smell them now, when the casserole comes out of the oven and the Avgolemeno hits the dolmades!
LyB says
March 26, 2008 at 1:05 pmThat sounds so wonderful! The lemon sauce must really make this dish.
By the way, there’s an award for you over here…
eatme_delicious says
March 26, 2008 at 1:21 pmOoo they look good! I’m not sure I’d have the patience to make them though haha.
Ben says
March 26, 2008 at 1:40 pmThat sounds really good, but where did you get the grape leaves? I have never heard of them before.
giz says
March 26, 2008 at 1:44 pmWell done Kevin – they look like they were made by someone who makes them all the time.
Bellini Valli says
March 26, 2008 at 2:35 pmGood for you Kevin!!!! I eat dolmades like candy. I made Peter’s dolmades as well baked in the oven:D
Deborah says
March 26, 2008 at 5:30 pmI really want to try making more Greek food – I need to find some grape leaves, because these sound wonderful!
Meeta says
March 26, 2008 at 6:02 pmI am loving your arabian/greek posts – probably because I am in Dubai and enjoying all these specialities (baklava and these stuffed vine leaves). I think you ought to come out here to get a taste of them LOL!
Love the lemon sauce!
Diana Evans says
March 26, 2008 at 6:40 pmI have never eaten grape leaves…are they good? I do love lemon and dill….
Saswati says
March 26, 2008 at 7:33 pmwow kevin what a wonderful blog you have….just fallen in love with all the recipes.Thanx for visiting my blog and that led me to yours.will be back for more:)
nicisme says
March 26, 2008 at 8:00 pmThis is a feast for the eyes, very delicious!
smiles says
March 26, 2008 at 11:18 pmwho you did a great job i make these all the time as im greek but i have been so lasy and have made then in a while so now that i have seen yours im gonna make them tomorrow and they tast great with TZATZIKI good job
Neen says
March 27, 2008 at 12:22 amTHANK YOU for this and for referring us to Peter’s post. I spend 3 years in Cyprus as a kid and really loved dolmades, but have a really hard time finding any in the states that aren’t canned or tinned. (Tinned, stuffed dolmades… how sad). It didn’t even occur to me that I could make them myself. Thanks for the inspiration!
Laurie Constantino says
March 27, 2008 at 12:28 amGood for you for tackling dolmades! Looks like you did a great job.
Kevin says
March 27, 2008 at 1:11 amBen: I found the grape leaves at a small specialty import grocery store.
Brilynn says
March 27, 2008 at 1:19 amI love dolmades, but I’ve never made my own. I’ll have to seek out some grape leaves.
AnticiPlate says
March 27, 2008 at 4:21 amWhere did you find grape leaves?
cakebrain says
March 27, 2008 at 4:43 amWhen I was in university I tried to make dolmades but I failed to rinse the grape leaves enough. It was so briny I couldn’t eat it. blech. I always order it at Greek restaurants and yours look authentic! Yummy photos!
White On Rice Couple says
March 27, 2008 at 4:59 amOh you made these too! We also love Greek cuisine for the same reasons you do….common us of mint and dill! We’re herb crazy and we added alot of extra herbs to our dolmades too!
noobcook says
March 27, 2008 at 11:21 amthe presentation looks like haute cuisine to me! 🙂
Ευθυμία Δεσποτάκη says
March 27, 2008 at 11:39 amYou could spare your self the pain of making the avgolemono sauce and eat your dolmades dipping them on strain yogurt. It’s lighter this way, and it’s not a taste compromise.
-Efthimia
Ginny says
March 27, 2008 at 12:13 pmGreek, Moroccan,Japanese…is there anything you don’t do? Looks great!
Nilmandra says
March 27, 2008 at 12:43 pmI had this for the first time (and only time so far…) at a Jewish restaurant in Paris. Really liked it. The lemon sauce sounds really good.
JennDZ - The Leftover Queen says
March 27, 2008 at 3:53 pmThese look very very good Kevin! Nice job on your first try! You looks like a pro! These are my favorite things to make!
Cooking and the City says
March 28, 2008 at 4:46 pmKevin these look soo good 🙂
TheRoosterChick says
December 8, 2009 at 8:27 pmNever used grape leaves before, but looks delicious.
Anonymous says
August 21, 2010 at 9:49 pmMade these this weekend! Delicious! Minus the mint they are just like my Yiayias!
Girl Cooks World says
June 15, 2011 at 9:25 pmI ended up making grilled fish wrapped in grape leaves a couple weeks ago and yes! Isn't getting those grape leaves out of the jar a total pain? I'll never understand why they don't put them in a wide mouth jar!
Now I have a bunch of grape leaves leftover and was thinking about dolmades. Thanks for the recipe!
Emily MacIntosh says
May 17, 2013 at 1:02 amKevin, where can I find grape leaves in Toronto?
kevin says
May 17, 2013 at 1:08 pmEmily MacIntosh: You should be able to find them in jars in the Mediterranean section of your grocery store. I have seen them at Food Basics and Metro. If you cannot find them in a local grocery store they have them at the small import shop in the lower level at the St Lawrence Market. You can also get them in the small Greek grocery stores in Greek Town around Pape and Danforth.
Jane Goncalves says
November 6, 2013 at 2:47 amI tried this recipe tonight and they were beautiful but when I cooked them in the oven the grape leaves fell apart…cooked too long. Just wondering why they are cooked after they are rolled…is that really necessary?
kevin says
November 13, 2013 at 2:45 pmJane Goncalves: I have never had the grape leaves bust open like that! They are baked after assembling because the meat and rice are placed in them uncooked and they cook as they bake allowing the flavours to mingle and the leaves to soften a bit as normally they are pretty tough.
Katey says
February 24, 2015 at 7:26 pmI know what I'm doing tonight. Thank you for the recipe!
Marylyn says
December 29, 2016 at 4:22 pmI'm sorry but I made this twice and have a couple issues. The feta cheese is really gross in this, but it's just my opinion. I'd cover the dish while cooking or the skins could burn. The rice was aldente so, ehh. Won't make this again.