Stuffed Grape Leaves Dolma With Egg Lemon Sauce Avgolemono Food

DOLMADES RECIPE

Steps:

• If using fresh leaves, wash them thoroughly and blanch it in hot boiling water for 1 - 2 minutes for younger leaves and 3 - 4 minutes for matured leaves. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl with ice cold water for a minute or two then transfer to a strainer to drain water. If using leaves sold in a jar, transfer to a strainer and run cold water for a few minutes. This process will remove the salt. Brine leaves are loaded with salt. Then drain water.
• Prepare the filling. Wash rice thoroughly and drain water. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, uncooked rice, onion, dill, parsley, salt and pepper. Once combined, stir-in the egg and blend well.
• Lay 1 grape leaf and add 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon filling depending on the size of leaf. Do not overfill and don't roll too tightly as rice will expand while cooking. Add the filling close to the base of leaf closer to the stem then fold the lower section over the filling then fold the two sides inward (towards center) and continue rolling like an egg roll. In a large pot, place dolmades with folded side down. Continue making all the dolmades, placing it in the pot in a row. Note: Make sure there are no torn pieces where filling can escape while cooking.
• Once all the dolmades are in the pot, cover top with leftover or torn grape leaves and place a plate on top of dolmades to hold it in place while cooking. Add 3 to 4 cups of water or chicken stock enough to cover dolmades and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Cover with lid.
• When done, remove grape leaves (can eat this too), plate and transfer cooked dolmades in a casserole. There will be a cup and ½ or so of liquid in the pot. This liquid will be added to the sauce.

STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES

Steps:

• Put the onions and oil in a skillet and cook over medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. While the onions cook, peel the garlic cloves and mash them to a paste in a mortar and pestle. Add this to the pan along with the tomato, lemon juice, tomato paste, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in the rice. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the dill. Set aside to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.
• While this is cooling, drain the grape leaves and carefully pull them apart. Put them into a bowl and cover them with cold water. Let them soak until you are ready to roll.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place a grape leaf on your work surface, shiny side down. Add 1 tablespoon of the rice mixture to the middle of the grape leaf. Fold the sides over the rice and roll the leaf into a small log shape, about the size of George's thumb. Repeat with the remaining rice, placing the stuffed leaves into a 9 by 9-inch baking dish. When the dish is full, cover the stuffed leaves with several layers of flat grape leaves and pour in 1 cup of water. Cover and bake for 1 hour. Let cool to room temperature and refrigerate. Serve cool.

STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES WITH EGG-LEMON SAUCE BY SY

Steps:

• GRAPE LEAVES DIRECTIONS: Sauté onions and celery with 1 tablespoon butter, until wilted In a big bowl add ground meat, onion and celery, rice, mint, parsley, pine nuts (optional) and salt & pepper; mix well!
• Remove grape leaves from the jar and open up onto a big plate.
• Remove one leaf (the bigger the better) and place onto a flat surface; with the shiny side down.
• Place a small amount of the filling toward the stem side of the leaf and then roll up (tuck in the left and right side as you roll) toward the top of the leaf.
• Make sure you do not put to much filling in each one.
• Then place them in a Corningware dish or sauce pan as noted below.
• In a large Corningware dish (or saucepan) grease the bottom with a little oil and then line the bottom with some of the smaller grape leaves.
• Place some of the smaller grape leaves in the dish/pan.
• Put into the dish/pan the rolled grape leaves and arrange in layers with each grape leaf close together.
• Add chicken stock, juice of 1 lemon, dry wine and remaining tablespoons of butter.
• In order to prevent the grape leaves from opening up during cooking, place a small flat Corningware plate on top of the grape leaves.
• Then place the Corningware glass cover upside down and onto the small flat plate.
• Cook, simmer on a low heat for about 1 hour.
• While cooling make the Egg-Lemon Sauce; See directions below.
• Place several grape leaves on a dish and then pour some of the hot Egg-Lemon Sauce on top.
• Serve with lemon wedges on the side.
• EGG-LEMON SAUCE DIRECTIONS: Lightly beat 2 egg yolks with 1/4 cup water.
• Squeeze juice from 2 lemons and add water for a total of 3/4 cup liquid.
• Add salt.
• Heat oil in a small pan and then add the cornstarch stirring; add a little of the lemon juice/water to prevent it from becoming lumpy.
• Next add a little of the lemon juice/water until smooth, then gradually add all the liquid and continue stirring until smooth.
• Remove from the heat for about 1 minutes.
• Then gradually add the beaten egg yolks stirring/whisk until smooth (Keep in mind that heating will cause the eggs to set, which you don't want to do).
• NOTE: The next day the grape leaves will taste even better, when heated up in a frying pan and then served with the Egg-Lemon Sauce.
• Or Microwave the grape leaves with some of the Egg-Lemon Sauces on top, prior to heating.

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 (DOLMA) WITH EGG-LEMON SAUCE (AVGOLEMONO)

Steps:

• DOLMA DIRECTIONS:.
• Saute onions and celery with 1 tablespoon butter until wilted. In a large bowl, add ground lamb, onions, celery, rice, mint sauce, parsley, salt and pepper. Mix well.
• Remove grape leaves from jar and open up onto a large plate.
• Remove one leaf (the bigger the better) and place onto a flat surface with shiny side down.
• Place a small amount of the filling toward the stem side of the leaf and then roll up (tuck in the left and the right side as you roll) towards the top of the leaf.
• Make sure you do not put too much filling in each one.
• Grease the bottom of a Corningware dish or Saucepot with a little oil or Pam, and then line the bottom with some of the smaller grape leaves that you did not use as rollups.
• Place into the dish/pot the rolled grape leaves close together and arrange in layers.
• Add chicken stock, lemon juice, wine or sherry, and remaining tablespoons of butter.
• In order to prevent the grape leaves from opening up during cooking, place a small flat Corningware plate or lid on top of the grape leaves.
• Then place Corningware glass cover onto the Corningware pot.
• Simmer on low for about 1 hour.
• After the 1 hour, set aside to cool.
• While cooling, make the egg-lemon sauce.
• After the sauce is made and you have drained the stuffed grape leaves by holding the lid in place and pouring the liquid into the sink, place several stuffed grape leaves on a dish and pour some hot egg-lemon sauce on top and serve.
• EGG-LEMON SAUCE DIRECTIONS:.
• Lightly beat 2 egg yolks with 1/4 cup of water.
• In a measuring cup, place 2 or 3 tablespoons lemon juice and add enough water for a total of 3/4 cup of liquid. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Heat 2 tablespoons peanut oil in a small pot and then add the cornstarch, stirring. Add a little of the lemon juice and water mixture to prevent it from becoming lumpy.
• Next, add a little more of the lemon juice and water mixture until smooth, and then add the rest of the lemon juice and water mixture and continue stirring until smooth.
• Remove from the heat for about 1 minute.
• Gradually add the beaten egg yolk mixture, stirring with a whisk until smooth. (Keep in mind that heating will cause the eggs to set, which you do NOT want to do.).
• NOTE: If you have any stuffed grape leaves leftover, you can heat them in a frying pan the next day and serve with the egg-lemon sauce. Or microwave the stuffed grape leaves with some egg-lemon sauce on top, prior to heating.

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.