Best Dolmades Recipes

DOLMADES (STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES)

Steps:

• To make the filling, coat a large saute pan with 1/4 cup of the oil and place over medium heat. Add the onion, fennel and lemon zest and stir until soft, about 10 minutes. Add the pine nuts and rice, saute for 2 minutes, stirring to coat. Pour in just 1/2 cup of the chicken stock and lower the heat. Simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente, about 10 minutes. Scrape the parboiled rice mixture into a bowl and add the dill and parsley; season with salt and pepper. Allow to cool. Now on to the grape leaves.
• Bring a big pot of water to a simmer. Blanch the grape leaves in the hot water for 5 minutes until pliable. Drain then trim the stems and any hard veins from the leaves. Pat dry with paper towels.
• To assemble the dolmades, lay a grape leaf on a work surface, shiny-side down. Put 2 tablespoons of the rice filling near the stem end of the leaf. Fold the stem end over the filling, then fold both sides toward the middle, and roll up into a cigar ¿ it should be snug but not overly tight because the rice will swell once it is fully cooked. Squeeze lightly in the palm of your hand to secure the roll. Repeat with remaining grape leaves and filling.
• Place the dolmades in a large Dutch oven or wide deep skillet, seam-side down in a single layer. Pour the remaining cup of broth, remaining olive oil, and the lemon juice over the dolmades, the liquid should reach halfway up the rolls, add some water if necessary. Cover the pan and simmer over low heat for 30 to 40 minutes, until the dolmades are tender when pierced with a fork. Serve warm, at room temperature or cool.

STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES WITH RICE (DOLMADES)

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the rice; cook, stirring until rice begins to color. Cover; lower heat to low. Cook 5 minutes. Stir in the water, dill, pine nuts, salt and pepper, simmer 5 minutes. Let cool.
• Place a heaping teaspoon of the filling in the center of each grape leaf with the shiny surface down. Fold the sides of the leaf over the filling; roll up loosely (the rice will swell when cooked). Place rolls in layers in a Dutch oven.
• Sprinkle with lemon juice. Add remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil and 1 1/12 cups hot water. Place a heatproof plate over the rolls to prevent them from opening. Cover; simmer over low heat 1 hour. Let cool in the pan; refrigerate until ready to serve.

DOLMADES: STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES

Steps:

• In a large saute pan over medium high heat, heat 1/4-cup olive oil. Add the onions and saute until translucent, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and pine nuts and saute for 2 minutes. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and allow to cool slightly. Add the rice, salt, raisins, mint and juice of 1 lemon to the bowl with the onion mixture and mix well. Set aside.
• Bring a medium pot of water to a simmer. Remove the grape leaves from the jar and drop them in batches of 4 or 5 into the hot water. Quickly remove them from the water and spread flat on a towel-lined work surface. Cut the stem from each grape leaf, as needed. (NOTE: Fresh grape leaves also need to be blanched for 1/2 minute.)
• To assemble the dolmades, place 1 grape leaf on the work surface, dull side (or underside) of the leaf up. Place 1 to 2 teaspoons of rice filling near the stem end of the leaf. Fold the stem (bottom) end up over the filling, fold the sides toward the filling in the center, then roll up the leaf into a small cylindrical package, being careful not to fold too tightly, as the rice will expand during cooking.
• Place the dolmades in a large Dutch oven or wide saute pan, seam side down. Combine the remaining cup of olive oil and juice of 1 lemon, and pour over the dolmades. Cover with a heavy plate or baking dish and add water to cover to the level of the plate. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for 1 hour, or until rice is tender.
• Serve at room temperature, with Kicked Up Tzatziki as a dipping sauce.
• In a medium bowl combine all the ingredients and chill for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to marry.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from New New Orleans Cooking, by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

DOLMADES - AUTHENTIC GREEK STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES W/ MEAT (SOUTHER

Steps:

• Unroll grape leaves and place in a pot of boiling water. Reduce heat to medium and let boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, pour out hot water, and cover leaves with cold water. Let soak while preparing stuffing.
• Knead the rest of the ingredientes together. Spoon filling inside a leaf and roll like a burrito, sealing completely.
• In large pot, add olive oil to cover bottom or butter. Arrange rolled dolmades on top. Do this all at once, not as you roll them. Pour chicken broth over dolmades, cover, and simmer for 2 hours.
• Serve with Greek yogurt and lemon wedges.

DOLMADES

Steps:

• Drain, rinse and dry grape leaves.
• Place off to the side.
• In a large bowl mix ground round, Lamb, salt, pepper, minced parsley, onion chopped, crushed or pressed garlic and Tabuli (or rice); mix well.
• Lay out one grape leaf stem up, place about 1 rounded tablespoon meat mixture near stem.
• Fold stem up over meat mixture fold one side leaf over mixture, fold top over then roll the rest but not tight.
• This is just like making a burrito.
• I use toothpicks to keep the stuffed leaves together.
• Place in at least 1 gal pot.
• Continue until all leaves are filled and snug in pot.
• If you run out of grape leaves that's okay, you can roll little balls of meat mixture and place in pot.
• Cover all stuffed leaves with chicken broth adding water if you don't have enough broth, more broth if you have it on hand (you can use just water if you want).
• Bring the broth to a boil then turn heat to low, simmer and cook covered until tender (pierced with a fork) about 30 minutes.
• Remove about 1 quart of broth from pot and let cool down a little.
• You want it hot just not scalding hot.
• In another bowl beat 4 eggs until frothy adding slowly juice from lemon.
• Take the warmed broth and add to the egg mixture slowly a 1/2 ladle at a time still beating the egg mixture.
• After all broth is mixed with egg & lemon slowly add to pot on stove.
• Cover the pot and turn flame off.
• Let sit for about 10 minutes then serve.
• I like it tart and rich so I use more eggs and lemon then the recipe calls for.
• You can experiment how many eggs and lemon you want for the egg lemon broth.
• Leftover broth in pot makes good Avgolemono (Egg Lemon soup).

STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES (DOLMADES)

Steps:

• Mix the lamb, onions, rice, pine nuts, salt, pepper, and mint into a bowl until evenly combined. Gently open up a grape leaf, and place rib-side down onto your work surface. Place a rounded tablespoon of the meat mixture into the center of the grape leaf. Fold the bottom of the leaf over the meat, fold in the sides, and roll into a tight cylinder. Place the rolled grape leaf into a large skillet, seam-side down. Repeat with remaining grape leaves, packing them in a tight, single layer.
• Pour the water into the skillet, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender, 50 to 55 minutes. Check occasionally and add more water if needed. Pour off water before serving.

DOLMADES (STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES WITH CURRANTS AND PISTACHIO)

Steps:

• Prepare an ice bath. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add 1 tablespoon salt. Add the grape leaves and gently mix to separate them. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Drain well, plunge into the ice bath and let cool for 2 minutes. Drain well again, separate and lay out on baking sheets lined with paper towels in a single layer. Remove 5 or so of the small or torn leaves and reserve for the bottom of the pan.
• Heat 1/4 cup of the oil in a medium high-sided saute pan over high heat. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until the onion is very soft, about 5 minutes; do not allow it to color. Add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, until opaque, about 2 minutes.
• Add the stock, currants and 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, uncovered and stirring a few times, until the rice absorbs the liquid, about 7 minutes. (The rice will only be par-cooked; it will continue to cook in the leaves.) Spread the rice out on a baking sheet to cool.
• When the rice is cooled, stir in the dill, parsley, green onion, pistachios and lemon zest; taste for seasoning.
• Lay a grape leaf on a work surface shiny-side down. Scoop 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons of the filling (depending on the size of the leaf) in your hand and lightly mold it into a log. Put the rice filling near the stem end of the leaf, fold the stem end over the filling, then fold both sides toward the middle and roll up into a cigar. Continue with the remaining leaves and filling.
• Lay the reserved grape leaves on the bottom of a small Dutch oven (this will keep the dolmades from sticking). Tightly fit the dolmades in the pan in a concentric circle, making several layers if needed. Drizzle some of the remaining lemon juice over each layer. Add enough water or stock to just come halfway up the side of the rolls (do not cover them) and drizzle with the remaining olive oil and a pinch of salt.
• Cut out a round of parchment to fit over the dolmades. Place a plate on top of the parchment and a bowl on top of the plate (to hold the rolls down while cooking). Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer, cover the pot and cook (making sure it is simmering and not boiling), until the rice is cooked through, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, for 10 minutes longer.
• Carefully remove the rolls to a serving dish. Serve warm, at room temperature or cold.

DOLMADES (STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325 degrees. In a bowl, combine onion, rice, lamb, beef, garlic, parsley, carrot, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon oil, chopped mint, salt, and pepper.
• Place a leaf, vein side up, on a work surface; place about 1 tablespoon filling just below center. Fold bottom of leaf over filling and sides in toward center; roll up. Do not overfill or roll too tightly. Repeat, making 35.
• Lay dolmades, seam side down, in a 9-by-13-inch glass baking pan; do not pack tightly.
• Combine stock and remaining 3 tablespoons oil; pour over dolmades. Squeeze lemon over dolmades, and place lemon slices and mint sprigs on top. Place another 9-by-13-inch baking pan, half full of water, on top to weigh down dolmades.
• Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Let dolmades cool in cooking liquid, still weighted, for 2 hours. Serve drizzled with olive oil, or refrigerate for up to 2 days; bring to room temperature before serving.

STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES WITH RICE AND HERBS (DOLMADES)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a simmer. Rinse well the grape leaves under running water. Add them to the hot water a few at a time, and blanch them stirring gently for 4-5 minutes or until pliable. Drain leaves and place them on a clean towel to cool. Trim the hard stems and any hard veins from the leaves, set them on paper towels to dry while you prepare the filling.
• To a skillet add ½ cup of the olive oil and lightly sauté the onion and scallions under medium heat. Add the rice and sauté for 3 minutes, stirring to coat. Add the water and cook the rice for 5 minutes more, or until all the liquid is absorbed. Mix in the dill, parsley, salt & pepper and remove from heat. Allow the mixture cool.
• Cover the bottom of a 5-qt. pot with 3-4 large grape leaves. Choosing the smaller (and most tender) leaves, place a few of them on a work surface, with the stem side facing up. Working with one grape leaf at a time, place about a scant tablespoon or less of the rice mixture near the stem end of the leaf. Fold the stem end over the filling and then fold the right and left sides over the top. Roll to create a tight cylinder - it should be snug but not overly tight as it will expand as the rice cooks. Transfer each stuffed grape leaf, seam side down, to the pot. Repeat with remaining grape leaves and rice mixture, fitting each one snugly in the bottom of the saucepan.
• Whisk remaining oil, lemon juice, and 1 cup of warm water in a medium bowl, sprinkle with some salt and pour carefully over the stuffed grape leaves. Cover stuffed leaves with an inverted heatproof plate to keep them submerged; bring liquid to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the grape leaves are tender and the rice filling is cooked through, about 40-50 minutes. Remove plate and transfer stuffed leaves to a serving dish; pour some of the cooking liquid over the top and serve at room temperature. Plain yogurt or tzatziki goes well alongside this classic dish.

GREEK DOLMADES WITH AVGOLEMONO SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Soak separated leaves in cold water for 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile in a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients except juice from lemon and chicken broth. Using clean hand, mix until very well-blended; set aside. Drain leaves in a colander.
• 2. Place the rougher side up and stuffing one leaf at a time, scoop about ½ tbsp. lamb mixture, rolling in the palm of the hand. Place it right at the base of the leaf. If there's a stem, tear it off and discard it. Take one side and fold over the mixture and then fold the other loose end over top; repeat on the other side. Roll up firmly (not too tight or not too loose), folding in if necessary, to the end forming a cylinder shape. Repeat until lamb mixture is gone.
• 3. Cover the bottom of a tall pot with broken leaves. Place dolmades starting from the outside and working our way in (don't squeeze, just snuggle). Stack another layer if needed. Drizzle the dolmades with olive (about 1 ½ tbsp.) and with lemon juice. Place a lid and pour hot chicken broth. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring it until it just starts to simmer and bubbles appear on the outside edge. Turn heat down to medium-low, cover and cook for 1 hour.
• 4. After cooking time is over, remove carefully the lid inside the pot and check if dolmades are cooked when a fork inserted slice in easily. If not, cook for another 10 minutes with the lid of the pot on.
• 5. Use 1 cup of chicken broth from the pot and pour in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat to keep it warm. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs. Place a damp towel underneath to keep bowl in place. Pour slowly lemon juice whisking constantly and continue whisking until airy and frothy. Very slowly, add hot broth a little at a time, whisking constantly and vigorously. When broth is almost all use, pour the egg mixture to the saucepan and cook for 5 minutes, whisking constantly, until the sauce thickens.
• 6. Spoon Avgolemono sauce over dolmades and sprinkle parsley over top. Serve immediately. Make 50 dolmades.
• 7. To view this recipe on YouTube, click on this link >>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41LAMVyxQDk

DOLMADES WITH YOGURT-MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• For grape leaves:
• Heat 1/4 cup oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onion and garlic. Sauté until very tender, about 10 minutes. Add rice and cumin and stir 1 minute. Add 2 cups broth and currants. Cover and simmer until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Transfer to bowl. Mix in nuts, parsley and mint. Season with salt and pepper. Cool completely (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Place grape leaves in bowl. Cover with cold water and let stand 30 minutes. Drain. Cut off stems. Arrange 1 leaf veined side up on work surface. Place 1 rounded tablespoon of rice filling on stem end. Repeat with remaining leaves and filling. Place seam side down in 2 heavy 12-inch skillets. Divide remaining 3 tablespoons oil and 2 cups broth between skillets. Cover; simmer over medium-low heat until liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes. Uncover and let rolls cool. Transfer to platter. Cover and chill. (Can be made 1 day ahead.)
• For sauce:
• Combine yogurt, mint and garlic in small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Place grape leaf rolls on platter and garnish with lemon. Serve with sauce.

DOLMADES WITH AVGOLEMENO SAUCE

Steps:

• Separate the grape leaves and place in a large bowl. (This will take a long time guessing 20 minutes.).
• Cover the leaves in boiling water and soak for 20 minutes.
• Drain the water and rinse leaves few times.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add onion, rice, and water.
• Cover and simmer until rice is HALF cooked, about 8 minutes.
• Drain off and discard any liquid.
• Add garlic to rice mixture.
• Mix the onion/rice mixture, ground meat, tomato puree, feta, lemon zest, green onions, dill, mint salt and pepper in a large bowl.
• PREHEAT OVEN to 375 degrees.
• Take one leaf, shiny side down, cut off the stem, and place 1 teaspoon of the mixture at the bottom (stem) end of the leaf. (If you want a bigger amount, put 1 tablespoon of filling in.).
• Fold both sides of the leaf towards the center, roll up from the broad bottom to the top, and place into a 4 QUART POT.
• Repeat with all leaves, rolling tightly- leaving no gaps as leaves are placed in pot (to prevent from opening while cooking). Put onto tray.
• Repeat until all of the filling is used up.
• Put leftover leaves in bottom of baking dish.
• Place stuffed grape leaves into a baking dish in layers, squeeze them gently, pack tightly into container, and just cover with chicken stock-might be too much stock. WEIGH DOWN BY placing a heavy oven proof plate inside casserole directly on top of dolmades-weigh that down with another oven proof weight.
• Bake in a 375 degrees F oven for about 1 hour, check to see if rice is done. You do NOT want it to be a rolling boil or they will burst open.
• 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.
• Gradually add some of the hot but not boiling liquid from the baking dish-guessing about 5 tablespoons- 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.

STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES (DOLMADES)

Steps:

• Sauté onion and garlic in 2 T olive oil until softened. Combine in large bowl with raw lamb or beef, herbs, rice, and pine nuts Unroll, wash and pat dry the grape leaves and trim off stems. With shiny side down, placed small amount of filling in center of each leaf and roll up, tucking in the sides. Arrange in layers, seam side down, in a large Dutch oven. Pour beef broth, lemon juice, and remaining T olive oil over the stuffed grape leaves, and lay a heavy heat-proof dish or press over them to keep them from unwrapping. Simmer uncovered 1 - 1-1/2 hours. Serve with lemon wedges - either hot or room temperature. Makes 3-4 dozen, depending on size of grape leaves and amount of filling for each

PINE NUT DOLMADES WITH YOGURT-FETA DIP

Steps:

• For pine nut dolmades:
• Place tomatoes with their juice in large bowl. Add next 7 ingredients and mix to blend. Season with salt and pepper.
• Rinse grape leaves under cold water. Drain. Cover bottom of heavy large Dutch oven with grape leaves (about 6). Place 1 grape leaf on work surface, vein side up; cut off stem. Place about 1 tablespoon rice mixture in center of leaf toward stem end. Fold sides over filling. Starting at stem end of leaf, roll up tightly as for egg roll. Place in Dutch oven, seam side down. Repeat with more leaves and rice mixture, layering dolmades when bottom of pot is filled.
• Pour lemon juice over dolmades. Cover with grape leaves (about 6). Add enough water to pot so that dolmades are almost covered. Place heatproof plate atop dolmades to weigh down. Cover pot and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer until rice is tender almost all liquid is absorbed, about 35 minutes.
• Remove from heat; uncover. Allow dolmades to cool in pot. Drain any liquid remaining in pot. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead, Cover and chill.) Arrange dolmades on platter. Serve with Yogurt-Feta dip.
• Yogurt-Feta dip:
• Place all ingredients in processor and puree until almost smooth. Season with pepper. Chill until cold, about 2 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.)
• Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

DECONSTRUCTED DOLMADES (UNSTUFFED GRAPE LEAVES)

Steps:

• Soak rice in a bowl of cool water for 15 to 30 minutes.
• Coarsely chop the grape leaves and place in fresh water to soak.
• Heat a 2- to 3-quart pan over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Add broth, juice of 1 lemon, onion, parsley, olive oil, mint, dill, pepper, and salt. Drain grape leaves and add to the pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
• Rinse and drain rice, then add to the pot. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Gradually add more chicken broth as needed keep liquid level above the meat-rice mixture. Be careful not to overcook the rice.
• Drain cooking liquid into another pan to make the sauce. Add remaining lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Mix in enough cornstarch until sauce resembles a medium-bodied gravy. Ladle sauce generously over the meat-rice mixture.

DOLMADES (STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES)

Steps:

• 1. Saute the chopped onions in half the olive oil. Add rice, salt, pepper, parsley, dill and spearmint. Mix well. Add half a glass of water. Cook until the water is absorbed.
• 2. The vine leaf is placed with the surface that had the stem face up with the stem facing towards you. Using a teaspoon, place a heaped spoonful in the center of the leaf. Next fold the stem end of the leaf into the center, followed by each side and finish by folding it into a cylinder.
• 3. It's best to use a large saucepan with a large surface area. Line the bottom with small, broken or left-over grape leaves and starting at the center place each stuffed leaf in a row, trying not to leave too much space between them, this avoids breakage.
• 4. Add the remaining oil, 2 cups of boiling water and the lemon juice.Place a large dinner plate on top to hold the leaves down in liquid. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 20-30 minutes until the rice is soft. Serve cold with Greek yogurt.

STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES (DOLMADES)

Steps:

• To prepare the grape leaves: Drain the jar and carefully remove the roll of leaves. Separate the leaves, rinsing them and stacking them (be careful not to tear them). Set aside.
• Chop the canned tomatoes finely (I process in a food processor). Combine the lamb, tomatoes and their liquid, rice, olive oil, scallions, and mint.
• Lay a grape leaf, vein side up with stem pointing toward you, on your work surface. Place a tablespoon of filling at the base of the leaf and roll up, tucking in at the sides to make a little bundle. (You want to roll it up tight enough so that it stays together but leave a little room for the rice to expand as it cooks). Repeat until all filling and/or grape leaves are used up, placing each bundle seam side down into a cooking pot.
• Squeeze lemon juice over the bundles, then add water nearly to cover. Place a small plate over the bundles to weigh them down (so they won't fall apart during cooking). Cover and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.
• Serve hot or cold.

DOLMADES WITH YOGURT-MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• FOR GRAPE LEAVES:
• Heat 1/4 cup oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium low heat. Add onion and garlic. Saute until very tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add rice and cumin and stir 1 minute. Add 2 cups broth and currants.
• Cover and simmer until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer to bowl.
• Mix in nuts, parsley and mint. Season with salt and pepper.
• Cool completely.
• (Can be made I day ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Place grape leaves in bowl.
• Cover with cold water and let stand 30 minutes.
• Drain.
• (Cut off stems.
• Arrange 1 leaf veined side up on work surface. Place 1 rounded Tbsp of rice filling on stem end, leaving 1/2-inch border.
• Fold 2 short sides over rice, then roll up starting at stem end.
• Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
• Place seam in side down in 2 heavy 12-inch skillets.
• Divide remaining 3 Tbsp oil and 2 cups broth between skillets.
• Cover; simmer over medium-low heat until liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes.
• Uncover and let rolls cool.
• Transfer to platter.
• Cover and chill.
• (Can be made 1 day ahead.) FOR SAUCE: Combine yogurt, mint, and garlic in small bowl.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Place grape leaf rolls on platter and garnish with lemon.
• Serve with sauce. These rice-filled grape leaves are a classic Greek appetizer.

DOLMADES

Steps:

• Place pepper directly on the trivet of a gas-stove burner over high heat. As each section turns puffy and black, turn pepper with tongs. (If you don't have a gas stove, place pepper on a baking pan, and broil, turning as each side chars.) Transfer pepper to a small bowl; cover with plastic wrap. Let sweat until it is cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a work surface. Peel off and discard blackened skin. Cut pepper into 1/4-inch dice, discarding seeds and inner membranes; transfer to a bowl; set aside.
• Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a skillet set over medium heat. Add onion, oregano, and salt; cook until onion is beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer to bowl with red pepper. Add cooked brown rice, currants, parsley, zest, and all but 1 tablespoon lemon juice; stir to combine.
• Remove stem from a rinsed vine leaf; lay leaf on work surface. Place 1 tablespoon filling at stem end; roll leaf tightly, tucking in ends. Repeat until all filling is used.
• Line an 8-inch saucepan with remaining leaves; arrange stuffed leaves, seam side down, in pan. They may be stacked in 2 layers. Drizzle with remaining tablespoon olive oil and remaining tablespoon lemon juice. Add enough water to the pan to just cover stuffed leaves; weight leaves for cooking with a kitchen plate or a lid smaller than the diameter of the pan.
• Place saucepan over high heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low; allow to simmer gently until leaves are tender, about 45 minutes. Transfer stuffed leaves to a serving platter, and allow to cool. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

LAMB MEATBALLS AND COLLARD DOLMADES

Steps:

• Soak bulgur in hot water to cover until tender, 15 to 30 minutes. Drain bulgur, then squeeze out as much water as possible. Combine bulgur with lamb, onion, garlic, cumin, mint, salt and pepper. Shape into 1-inch meatballs, handling mixture as little as possible.
• Put olive oil in a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high heat; when hot, add meatballs and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning every couple of minutes. Serve immediately or cool and proceed with recipe.
• Bring a large pot of water to boil and salt it. Trim stem ends of collard leaves and discard. Put half the leaves in the boiling water and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until they are just pliable. Use a slotted spoon to remove leaves from water and transfer to a colander; run leaves under cool water; drain and gently squeeze to remove most of the excess water, leaving them just damp enough so they will stick together when rolled. Repeat with other leaves.
• Cut leaves in half by running a sharp knife along each side of stem, removing stem in process; trim top and bottom, making a large, rectangular-shaped leaf. Lay one leaf down with widest part facing you. Put a meatball in middle of leaf, bring two sides of leaves together and roll like a burrito to seal it. Put each stuffed leaf, seam side down, on a serving plate. Repeat, cooking and stuffing remaining leaves. Serve with lemon wedges.