Dolma (Stuffed Grape Leaves), Iraqi-Style

May 29, 2023May 29, 20230 2
Iraqi-Style Dolma Recipe with Minced Beef or Lamb, Rice, and Spices
in Main

Prep

60 min

Cook

60 min

Ready In

120 min

Level

Difficult

Rating

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
Loading...

Ingredients

1 jar grape leaves
2 lbs beef or 2 lbs lamb , minced
1 cup long-grain uncooked rice ( basmati rice works best )
3/4 cup tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 medium onion , finely chopped
2 garlic cloves , minced
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pinch ground cardamom
1/2 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
2/3 cup canola oil
4 -5 carrots
water

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe
8
Calories
330
Sugar
3g
Fat
20g
Dolma is a dish that features stuffed grape leaves and is popular in many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, including Iraqi cuisine. This Iraqi-style dolma recipe combines minced meat, rice, and spices to create a flavorful filling, which is then wrapped in grape leaves and cooked with carrots and lemon juice. The combination of spices, lemon juice, and vegetables gives this dish a unique flavor that's perfect as a starter or main course. In Iraq, dolma is often made for special occasions and is a must-have dish during Ramadan.

Instructions

1.Rinse the grape leaves under cold water and separate them.
2.In a large bowl, mix together the minced beef (or lamb), uncooked rice, tomato sauce, tomato paste, onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, cumin, paprika, coriander, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom.
3.Take a grape leaf, vein side up, and place about 1 tablespoon of the meat and rice mixture in the center of the leaf.
4.Fold the bottom edge up, then fold the sides in, and roll the leaf tightly up to the top.
5.Repeat with the remaining grape leaves and filling.
6.Cut the carrots into 1 inch pieces.
7.In a large pot, place the rolled dolma tightly next to each other, seams down, with the carrot pieces in between.
8.In a small bowl, mix together the lemon juice and canola oil, then pour the mixture over the dolma.
9.Add enough water to the pot to just cover the dolma.
10.Cover the pot and cook over medium low heat for about 50-60 minutes, or until the dolma are cooked through and the rice is tender. Serve hot or cold.

PROS

Deliciously spiced and flavorful, this Iraqi-style dolma recipe makes a great main dish or appetizer.

It’s a perfect comfort food for cold weather days.

CONS

The preparation of dolma can be time-consuming, but it’s worth the effort.

Also, the calorie content could be relatively high due to the rice.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

The dolma is a nutritious dish as it contains a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats.
The tomatoes, onions, garlic, and carrots are all rich in vitamins and minerals, and the rice provides dietary fiber.
Some of the spices used in the recipe, such as cumin and cinnamon, have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are beneficial for health.

Print

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.