1½cupsboiling waterThe actual amount of boiling water may be less depending on the amount of excess lemon tomato mixture available.
3Tbspolive oil
Instructions
Fresh Grape Leaves (if not using store-bought).
Clean and wash grape leaves.
Boil a pot of water for blanching washed grape leaves.
Place grape leaves briefly in the boiling water. Remove when leaves change color. DO NOT PUNCTURE LEAVES.
Place in a bowl of cold water.
Rice Filling.
Dice tomatoes to ⅓" (less than 1 cm).
Dice onions to ⅓" (less than 1 cm).
Chop parsley.
Rinse rice with water to remove starch. Drain water using a sieve.
Place washed rice in a large bowl.
Add tomatoes, onions and parsley.
Add salt and lemon juice.
Allow rice to soak up juice for at least ½ hour.
Meat filling.
Brown the ground meat in a non-stick skillet to avoid using oil.
Remove excess fat rendering depending on your taste.
Add salt / bouillon, cumin, coriander and allspice to ground meat.
Cool cooked meat.
Add cooked meat into rice mixture.
Wrapping.
You can drain the rice from the juice using a sieve now or after wrapping. This liquid mixture will be part of the boiling water liquid required for cooking the leaves.
Place stuffed grape leaves into a pot and arrange the dolmas in a way that ensures dolmas not floating away during the boiling process.
Boiling.
Add the strained juice liquid mixture from the flling to a measuring cup and add additional boiling water to make up the required liquid needed fo boilingr the rice.
Add boiling water mixture and olive oil to the pot.
Place a plate on top of the dolmas to prevent the grape leaves from unravelling.
Bring the water to a boil.
Turn down heat, cover with lid and cook for 30 minutes at a rolling boil.
If excess water is still in the pot after 30 minutes, uncover lid and allow water to cook off.
OPTIONAL. You can caramelize the leaves by allowing the leaves to crisp. You should hear the leaves sizzle as it fries. Allow to fry for a few minutes. DO NOT BURN!
Turn stove off. Cool for 15 minutes.
Plate the dolma by placing a plate large enough to cover the pot. Quickly invert the pot and the dolmas should drop onto the plate intact.