Recipe: Byzantine Dolmathes Stuffed Grapeleaves

Title: Byzantine Dolmathes (Stuffed Grapeleaves)
Categories: Greek, Appetizers, Main dish
Servings: 60

1 Jar grapeleaves (or fresh)

----------------------------------FILLING----------------------------------
2 tb Oil
1 lb Ground beef or lamb
2 Onions; chopped
1 Garlic clove; pressed
2 c Water
1/2 c Tomato sauce
1 c Rice
2 tb Chopped mint
2 tb Chopped parsley
1/2 ts Salt
Pepper to taste
1/8 ts Cinnamon
1/2 c Currants
1/4 c Port wine (optional)
1/4 c Pine nuts or walnuts
2 c Water
1 Lemon (juice only)

-----------------------------------SAUCE-----------------------------------
3 Eggs
2 Lemons (stained juice only)
1 c Hot broth

If using canned grape leaves, rinse off brine by floating leaves in a
basin of cold water. Prepare fresh vine leaves by pouring a cup of
boiling water over them in a bowl. Drain. Spread 5 or 6 leaves out at a
time on a flat surface. Lay leaf stem side up. Snip off stem with
kitchen shears.

MAKE FILLING: Heat oil in large frying pan. Fry meat, onions and garlic
on medium heat for 5 minutes, mixing it as it cooks. Add water and
remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Cover. Reduce heat to simmer
and cook 10 minutes, until water is absorbed. Set aside until cool enough
to handle. Put 1 teaspoon of filling near stem. Bring left side of leaf
towards center, then bring right side towards center. They will not
always meet. Pick up stem end of leaf, tucking in the filling. Roll away
from you. It will be an oblong roll like a sausage.

Line the bottom of a large skillet with 4 leaves. Place each roll so that
the tucked under end is on the bottom. Arrange each roll snugly, one next
to the other, until all the leaves (except 3), and filling are gone.
Place these leaves flat on top of rolls. Place a flat dish on top of
rolls also to prevent their unravelling during cooking.

Add water and lemon juice. Bring to a boil. Cover. Reduce heat to
simmer and cook 45 minutes. When done, remove pot from fire. Make Egg
and Lemon Sauce and add to broth immediately or serve without sauce either
cold as an appetizer or as a hot entree.

EGG AND LEMON SAUCE: Beat eggs until thick and light yellow, at least 5
minutes, with an electric beater or 10 to 15 minutes by hand. Add juice
slowly, beating all the while. Mix 1 cup hot broth into beaten eggs,
stirring it in quickly with spoon (or wire whisk) so heat will not curdle
the eggs. Cook over very low heat until thickened.

From: "The Complete Greek Cookbook" by Theresa Karas Yianilos. Avenel
Books, New York.

Typed for you by Karen Mintzias