Greek Dolmas with Lemon Tahini Sauce

Dolmas are a Greek-based food consisting of a rice and vegetable mixture wrapped in a slightly brined grape leaf.  Here I have topped it with a lemon tahini sauce but you may also use a yogurt dill sauce or tomato sauce if these suit your taste more.  This makes a great appetizer or a side dish that complements other Greek foods, such as, tabouli, humus and pita, falafel, or baba ganoush.

Ingredients:

Dolmas 

30-40 grape leaves 

2 cups long or short grained white rice 

2 cups vegetable broth 

2 cups water

1 clove garlic

1 large onion finely chopped 

2 cloves garlic minced 

1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts 

2 lemons (squeezed) 

2-3 Tbsp fresh mint

2-3 Tbsp parsley

2-3 Tbsp dill

1 Tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Lemon Tahini Sauce

3/4 cup tahini
4-5 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp cayenne
1-2 Tbsp parsley finely chopped
1-2 Tbsp dill finely chopped
1/2 to 3/4 cup water (or to desired thickness)

Directions:

Dolmas

• rinse the grape leaves with cold water and cut or twist off stems
• place leaves in a frying pan or skillet and cover with water, bring to boil and let simmer for 1-2 minutes (or until the grape leaves are soft and tender but don't tear easily)
• cook white rice in water and vegetable broth
• saute onions and garlic in olive oil
• combine onions and garlic with remaining ingredients (rice, lemon juice, parsley, dill, etc.)
• add salt and pepper to taste
• place one grape leaf with the smooth side facing down
• add 2-3 Tbsp of rice mixture to the center point of the leaf
• fold the sides of the leaf onto the rice mixture, then fold the bottom portion of the leaf (see photo below)
• tightly roll and wrap towards the top of the leaf
• place dolmas seam side down and add two or three layers of dolmas into steam pot
• steam the dolma for about one hour

Potential Alterations

• use couscous or quinoa instead of rice
• try different herbs (e.g. cilantro) and vegetables (e.g. mushrooms, spinach)
• exclude nuts

Lemon Tahini Sauce

• combine tahini, lemon juice, and garlic into a blender or food processor and mix until smooth
• slowly add water until you have the desired thickness
• add dill, parsley, cayenne, salt and pepper