How to Make My Own Famous Stuffed Grape Leaves - A Step-by-Step Guide

There's something special about homemade stuffed grape leaves that you just can't get from store-bought ones. My own famous stuffed grape leaves recipe has been a hit with my family and friends for years, and now I'm excited to share it with you. This recipe is a labor of love, but the end result is well worth the effort.

Stuffed grape leaves, also known as dolmas, are a popular dish in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. The leaves are filled with a flavorful mixture of rice, h...

Read more Snack recipes

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • ½ cup chopped fresh dill
  • ½ cup chopped fresh mint leaves
  • 2 quarts chicken broth, divided
  • ¾ cup fresh lemon juice, divided
  • 60 fresh grape leaves
  • 1 cup olive oil

Information

  • Prep Time: 45 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins
  • Additional Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins
  • Servings: 12
  • Yield: 60 stuffed grape leaves

  • Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add rice, onion, dill, and mint; sauté until onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Pour in 1/2 of the broth, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until rice is almost cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in 1/2 of the lemon juice and remove from the heat.
  • Plunge grape leaves into a deep container of very hot water until soft, about 10 seconds; pat dry.
  • Place a grape leaf onto a work surface with the shiny side facing down. Place 1 teaspoon rice mixture on leaf at the stem end; fold both sides in toward the center and roll up from the wide bottom to the top. Place stuffed leaf into a 4-quart pot. Repeat to stuff remaining leaves, packing them into the pot tightly so they don't open while cooking.
  • Drizzle olive oil and remaining lemon juice over leaves, then pour in remaining broth to cover. Cover the pot and simmer for about 1 hour; do not let it boil as the stuffing may burst out of the leaves.
  • Remove from the heat, uncover, and let cool for 30 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish and serve.
  • Nutrition

    303 cal.

    • Total Fat: 19g
    • Saturated Fat: 3g
    • Sodium: 573mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 31g
    • Dietary Fiber: 1g
    • Total Sugars: 1g
    • Protein: 4g
    • Vitamin C: 12mg
    • Calcium: 76mg
    • Iron: 2mg
    • Potassium: 88mg