Stuffed cabbage rolls in grape leaves

Step-by-step preparation

Cooking time: 2 hr

1. STEP 1

   

   How to make cabbage rolls in grape leaves? First, prepare the ingredients for the filling. You can use any minced meat: pork, beef, mixed. I have beef. If necessary, defrost it in advance. Take any rice to suit your taste: long, round, steamed, as long as it is not crushed.

2. STEP 2

   

   Rinse the rice in running water until the water is clear, then boil in water until half cooked (al dente). The ratio of rice and water should be 1:3 - 1:4. Place the rice in a colander and cool. The rice should be crumbly and not overcooked.

3. STEP 3

   

   Wash the parsley and cilantro, dry and finely chop.

4. STEP 4

   

   In a bowl, combine minced meat, rice and chopped herbs. Add cumin, salt and pepper. You can add a ready-made mixed mixture of dry seasonings for meat.

5. STEP 5

   

   Mix the minced meat thoroughly.

6. STEP 6

   

   Prepare products directly for dolma. Pickled grape leaves are a must - nothing can replace them. You can use any broth: meat, chicken, vegetable. Or take regular boiled water.

7. STEP 7

   

   Dry the pickled grape leaves.

8. STEP 8

   

   Place one grape leaf on a flat plate, glossy side down, and spread out. For dolma, choose only whole leaves. Put all the torn ones aside, we will need them later.

9. STEP 9

   

   Place some minced meat on the wide part of the grape leaf. It is more convenient to wrap the minced meat by first forming it into a small oval sausage.

10. STEP 10

    

    Roll the sheet into a roll, tucking in the side edges. Thanks to the shape of the sheet, the rolls do not unroll, and the filling is not visible through the leaves. Check that this is exactly the case.

11. STEP 11

    

    Roll all the other rolls in the same way. While I was wrapping, I caught myself thinking that it is much more pleasant to form cabbage rolls in grape leaves than in cabbage leaves, although you need to roll a lot of such rolls.

12. STEP 12

    

    Use the remaining defective leaves to line the bottom and walls of a cauldron or thick-bottomed pan in which you plan to cook dolma.

13. STEP 13

    

    Place the rolled up rolls on top of the leaves.

14. STEP 14

    

    Place a plate or saucer of small diameter on the rolls. This will prevent strong bubbling and rapid evaporation of water.

15. STEP 15

    

    Pour the prepared broth into the pan so that it completely covers the cabbage rolls. Cook the dolma over low heat for about 40-50 minutes. Adjust the exact cooking time according to your stove. After 30 minutes from the start of cooking, taste the water and add salt if necessary. Remove the finished cabbage rolls from the heat and let them sit for 10 minutes. During this time, part of the broth will be absorbed into the leaves, and the minced meat will be even juicier.

16. STEP 16

    

    This is indescribably delicious!!!! Bon appetit!

Comments on the recipe

Natalia M

12.12.2023

4.6

I really liked the cabbage rolls in grape leaves. The leaves add sourness to the dish, it is original and tasty. I used mixed minced meat, beef and pork, to make it juicier. Although the cabbage rolls were stewed in broth and became juicy without any extra tricks. I did not add greens to the minced meat, because... my children don’t eat anything even “herbs”) Then I put parsley sprigs on the adults’ plate. My leaves were fresh, picked from the vine, so I poured boiling water over them until they changed color, and then dried them. In principle, preparing cabbage rolls in grape leaves is not difficult and does not take long. We all liked the taste; fragrant spices and meat go well with grape leaves. My son ate it with mayonnaise, and we just ate it with a salad of fresh vegetables. Tasty, juicy, beautiful! Thanks for the recipe!