One of my all time FAVORITE Greek dishes is Dolmades. They are basically just Greek rice wrapped in grape leaves or zucchini flowers. They are flavorful and healthy! Oh, and did I mention they are vegetarian?! Most dolmathes recipes have meat in them but honestly, it tastes a thousand times better to leave out the meat and let the rice speak for it self.
Now, I am not vegetarian but I do have vegetarian friends and this dish is always a hit no matter who I’m serving it to! And of course as a Greek I love serving traditional food. This recipe takes some time and rolling the grape leaves takes some practice but it is so worth it! So if you’re looking for quick dinner this isn’t it but if you have a day to prep something before a party this will impress everyone!
Ingredients
32 oz. rice
8 tomatoes
1/2 cup fine chopped mint
1/2 cup find chopped Italian parsley
2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill
1 bunch fine sliced green onion
3 Tbs salt
1 Tbs pepper
1 Tbs garlic
2 cups olive oil
3/4 cup lemon juice
Preparation
Yields: 8 tomatoes and 56 grape leaves with left over rice!
- Dig out the insides of the tomatoes. Chop fine. Put in 12 quart stock pot.
- Add all other ingredients to pot.
- Add 10 cups water. Simmer rice until slightly al dente.
- Cool rice mixture.
- Stuff 8 tomato shells (we dug out the centers in the first step!) Roll the rest of the rice into grape leaves (like a burrito folded on each end)
- Place stuffed grape leaves into a large Pyrex baking dish (don’t fill the pan too full, may take more than one pan)
- Add 1 cup water into Pyrex
- Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Enjoy!
Do you have an awesome Greek recipe for me to try? Let me know in the comments!
Always Adventure!
Oh that sounds like a yummy recipe!!
YUM! I would love to try this one day, altho im not a huge fan of parsley do u think i can take that out or does it defeat the taste of the food? haha
I would suggest replacing the parsley with an herb that you prefer more! Something that is still fresh and leafy such as cilantro. You may have to play around with it and try flavors you enjoy more but I definitely think a fresh herb brings the flavor together the best. Let me know what you try!
These sound tasty! My husband and I love any sort of Greek/Mediterranean food. We will have to try these 🙂
I love Mediterranean food as well! I am always trying to find new recipes 🙂 I hope you guys like this recipe!
Wow! This looks so tasty and healthy! I didn’t even know grape leaves were edible 🙈 I have to give this recipe a try! I’m not vegetarian but several of my friends are and I’m sure they’re going to love this! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I hope you do try it! I’m not vegetarian either but I love it and it is always a big hit at parties!