Stuffed Grape Leaves, tasty & healthy!

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Dolmadakia, the Greek word for stuffed grape leaves, is one of the most iconic recipes of Greek cuisine and, although there are many varieties, the meatless version is the most common. This favorite stuffed grape leaf has dill, mint, ground beef, and rice. Dolmathakia me Kima: Stuffed Grape Leaves With Meat and Rice.

You need to prepare Meat Filling Mixture.
Use ground meat (turkey, beef, lamb, deer).
Use ground black pepper.
Use salt.
Prepare brown rice, rinsed.
You need garlic, minced.
Use onion, minced.
You need Grape Leaves.
Use jar of grape leaves (90 count).
Provide Sauce.
Provide chicken broth.
Provide Tomato sauce (Spaghetti sauce).
Prepare onion, minced.
Use garlic, minced.
You need to prepare water or more chicken broth.
You need Utensils.
You need to prepare lidded stock pot.
Use heat proof plate, cast iron lid.
You need weight or cup of water.
Provide large plates.
Prepare sharp knife.

Short Tips:

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Mix with your hand all the meat, onion, and rinsed brown rice, garlic, salt, pepper and 1/4 cup onion..
Set aside. ( I use 19oz. Pkg ground turkey, a little more than a lb. of ground beef and ground deer meat. The combo to me makes it taste somewhat like lamb. I have used all ground beef. Use what you like best.).
Open your grape leaves , drain, and pull out a bundle. This jar has three. It is a little tricky, don't worry if you tear some on the first bundle..
Trim stems and large veins..
Trim the stems from one bunch of grape leaves. ( I do one bunch and fill them, then move on to the next bunch ).
You may use as much or as little meat as you like, if you use too much it will be hard to fold and not come out like a neat bundle, don't worry just take out some of the meat filling and reroll..
This is a large leaf. Some will be odd shaped or torn, set those aside until last. Pointed side is at bottom. Fold top down over meat..
Fold sides in keeping leaf snug around meat..
Roll down to bottom to make a stuffed tight bundle. Continue until you use your pile of grape leaves..
Put the finished ones on a large plate. I do these a bundle at a time because I stand at the counter and my back needs a break every so often. If you sit at your table you may be able to work straight through. Stuff and roll til you run out of something..
You will get large and small leaves. You can separate large and small when you trim the stems off..
I had 14 leaves left when I ran out of meat. You could put these in a freezer bag, removing the air, and keep for a month in the freezer OR you can lay a few of them in the bottom of your large pot to protect your bundles from possible burning..
Now we will assemble and get ready to cook.
Take a large pot with a lid, I use an 8 quart size. Layer 6-8 of your left over grape leaves on the bottom of pot. Since you can't stir while cooking, sometimes it burns a little if your fire is too high..
Pour enough tomato sauce to just cover your leaves in the bottom of pot..
Layer your bundles in a flat layer snugly. Repeat layering of bundles until you have put all stuffed grape leaves into pot..
I had 3 layers, about 77. You want them snug because in the sauce they may float, open and your filling will come out. That is why in a few more steps we will lay a plate or weight on top of them..
Pour the rest of the tomato juice, the onion, 2 teaspoons minced garlic, and the 3 cups of chicken stock over the bundles slowly..
***Place a small metal or plastic plate or cast iron lid ( I couldn't find mine) on top of the bundles with a cup of water if it needs some weight. My Grandfather did this with the stock pot smaller lid and a metal weight. ***I usually don't do this but a lot of recipes call for it so I thought I would try it this time.!!!!!! My plate and water were not heavy enough to stay in place while cooking. Cast iron or a steel trivot would work. Almost all stayed wrapped anyway.!!!!.
Use low flame. Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer. Add more broth or water if the sauce gets below the bundles. We need to cook the meat and the rice and still have sauce left for when we eat them.( I didn't need extra water).
Cook for 2 hours then check to see if your rice is cooked by cutting one in half and tasting. If not cook 30 minutes more on low. (I cooked mine for 3 hours because I was waiting for the hubby to get home, they were perfect, not overcooked at all and not burned).
Serve with a little sauce spooned over them. Some buttered crusty bread and a salad..

Stuffed Grape Leaves (Greek Dolmades) are often served as part of a meze (appetizer) plate. Too often they come from a can and are not fresh. Stuffed foods, like my Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves, are symbolic for Sukkot- they signify a bountiful harvest. Garnish them with fresh mint leaves, lemon slices and olives for a lovely presentation. Are stuffed grape leaves bad for you?

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