Have you wondered what is Stuffed Grape Leaves and how can you make it? Mama will tell you what is Stuffed Grape Leaves and will give you a delicious Stuffed Grape Leaves Recipe! One of the unique flavours that show the creativity of Turkish cuisine is stuffed leaves. It has a long historical adventure based on Ottoman cuisine. Leaf wraps cooked with olive oil or meat are served with traditional Turkish yogurt. One portion contains 564 calories. Additionally, preparation and cooking time take a total of 80 mins. If you pay attention to the tricks, you can make extremely delicious stuffed grape leaves.
What are Stuffed Grape Leaves
Stuffed grape leaves are called in Turkish ‘’sarma’’. Although the main ingredients are bulgur and rice, the ingredients vary from region to region. Even homemade or some restaurants keeps their own special condiment secret. To taste the best one, visit Mama Fatma! In the Turkish stuffed grape leaves recipe, you will only see vegan ingredients. So, if you are a vegan, you can prefer vegetarian stuffed grape leaves by using the Turkish stuffed grape leaves recipe. However, also it is worth the mention that stuffed grape leaves with meat is also a delicious experience and gives a different taste to stuffed grape leaves.
Ingredients
If you wonder how you can make this delicious meal, here are the ingredients and a Stuffed Grape Leaves recipe from Mama Fatma:
- 300 grams of vine leaves
- 1 lemon
- 4 tablespoons of olive oil
- 5 cups of hot water
- 1/2 cup of olive oil
- 3 medium size onion
- 5 cups of rice
- 1 cup of hot water
- 1 tablespoon of peanuts
- 1 tablespoon currants
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon mint
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
How to make Stuffed Grape Leaves
- To prepare the stuffed grape leaves, Heat half a glass of olive oil in a wide-bottomed saucepan. Fry 3 grated onions until lightly colored. Then add 1.5 tablespoons of pine nuts and continue frying.
- Roast 1.5 cups of rice, which you have soaked in warm water for 5 minutes and drained, together with the onions, until the rice acquires a transparent appearance.
- Then gradually, Add 1 tablespoon of currants, 1 teaspoon each of salt, black pepper, allspice, and cinnamon, and mix.
- Add about 1 glass of hot water and cook the stuffing on low heat for 5 minutes, then remove it from the stove.
- Open the pickled grape leaves on the counter with the veins on top. In the middle part of each leaf, Put and distribute one teaspoon each of the stuffing you have cool down.
- Take the edges in and move from the wide part to the tip.
- Wrap all the leaves tightly.
- Cover the bottom of the wrap pot with a few vine leaves.
- Arrange the wraps you have prepared in a row, side by side. After slicing the lemon into circles, place it on the wraps.
- For them not to open during cooking, cover them with a flat serving plate. After adding 1.5 cups of hot water and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pot, cook the wraps on low heat for about 35 minutes.
- According to desire, Serve warm or cold.
With this Turkish Stuffed Grape Leaves recipe, you can experience this mouth watering delicacy!
How to store leftovers?
If you are going to consume it in a short time, it is recommended to store it in the refrigerator. However, you can store it in the freezer for long-term preservation. Also, it is worth mentioning that if you have stuffed grape leaves with meat, your shelf life will be shortened.
What to serve with Stuffed Grape Leaves
The best duo of Stuffed Grape Leaves is Tuırkish Yogurt. In Turkey, yogurt is the most popular meal that is served with Stuffed Grape Leaves. If you wonder where you can find yogurt for your stuffed Grape Leaves, don’t worry. In Mama Fatma, you can also order Yogurt under the name of side orders on the menu.
Where to Find Grape Leaves? FAQ
You can find Grape Leaves in any local restaurant in Turkey. Also, there are also heat-processed Stuffed Grape Leaves in local markets, which have a longer shelf life. However, if you can find fresh Stuffed Grape Leaves in Mama Fatma, why do you need unhealthy heat-processed food? Visit Mama Fatma for the delicious traditional Stuffed Grape Leaves!
Can I use Fresh Grape Leaves to make Dolmas? FAQ
Yes, you can use Fresh Grape Leaves to make Dolmas. After you boil your fresh Grape Leaves with salt in the pot and wait until they turn brown, you can fill them as you wish and make delicious Dolmas as Mama Fatma do.
What are other names for Stuffed Grape Leaves? FAQ
There are different names for Stuffed Grape Leaves in the Balkan region and Turkey. In Turkey, it is called “Sarma.” However, it is also called “Dolma,” “Dolmades, “Dolmeh,” and “Dolmathakia” in various Balkan countries. Through the Ottoman reign, Stuffed Grape Leaves were introduced in the Balkans, and the name variations originated in different regions. In Mama Fatma, you can find it under the name of Yaprak Sarması, which is the typical name for Stuffed Grape Leaves in the western region of Turkey.
Are stuffed grape leaves healthy? FAQ
If you are on a diet or only prefer healthy dishes, especially vegetarian stuffed grape leaves will be the best option for you. Stuffed grape leaves calories are low and high in fiber. The calories which come from stuffed grape leaves are healthy in nutrition. If you wonder about stuffed grape leaves calories, it has only 175 calories for 100 grams! Moreover, stuffed grape leaves also contain vitamins A, K, calcium, and iron, which are the main components for a healthy life. It can fulfill your daily needs through only 5 sprigs. Apart from nutrition, it also has an antioxidant effect. Furthermore, stuffed grape leaves are also vegan! If you are a vegan, you can safely consume stuffed grape leaves in Mama Fatma.
Can you freeze stuffed grape leaves? FAQ
Yes, you can! You can freeze your Stuffed Grape Leaves for up to 3 months to consume them later. After you coat them in olive oil, you should transfer them into freezer bags and freeze them. Also, you can increase shelf life by removing the air and adding a layer of foil to your freezer bags. By pressing the air, you can increase it up to 6 months. When you defrost them, you should leave them overnight and let them defrost by themselves. Additionally, you can also refreeze them. Because there’s less liquid amount in stuffed grape leaves, it can be refrozen multiple times.
