Lamb and Pine Nut-Stuffed Grape Leaves Recipe

Posted on 18th of August, 2010 by Lévana

This treat might cure you of all misguided urges you might have to open a can and find a dozen insipid ready-to-eat grape leave rolls: Instead, spend a few minutes on the preparation of these fabulous gems, and enjoy them with family and friends! You can stuff the leaves with anything, meat, fish or vegetarian, but today this filling is the star!

Ingredients:

Filling

1/4 cup olive oil

4 large cloves garlic

1 large onion, quartered

1 small bunch flat parsley

¼ cup mint leaves, packed

1 pound ground lamb

1 large tomato, halved, seeded, and diced small

1/2 cup golden or black raisins

1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted (325 degree oven, 10-12 minutes). Skip if you are avoiding nuts

Good pinch saffron

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Pepper to taste

1 15 ounce jar grape leaves, separated and rinsed

1 cup pomegranate or cranberry juice

3 tablespoons tomato paste

2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Heat the oil in a skillet. In a food processor, finely grind the garlic. Add the onion, parsley and and mint, and grind coarsely. Add the ground mixture to the skillet, and saute until translucent. Add the lamb and tomato, and cook 2-3 more minutes. Add all remaining filling ingredients and mix thoroughly. Place a tablespoon stuffing at the bottom center of a leaf (smaller leaves: Make them overlap to get a larger more workable surface) . Roll once, fold the sides towards to center, and roll all the way up. Place seam side down in a pan just large enough to fit the leaves snugly in one layer. Repeat with  the remaining leaves and stuffing. whisk the juice, tomato paste and oil in a little bowl, and pour evenly over the leaves. Bake about 40 minutes, until the juices are reduced and the leaves look nicely browned on top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Filed under: Gluten Free Recipes, Grape Leaves Recipes, Kosher Food, Kosher for Passover Recipes, Kosher Ingredients, Kosher Recipes, Lamb recipes, Meat Recipes, Moroccan Recipes, Recipes, Sephardi Recipes