Stuffed Grape Leaves Persian Recipes

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine vinegar and sugar. Bring to a boil, then lower heat, and simmer until a thin syrup forms, about 10 minutes. Let cool in pan.
• In a medium saucepan, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 1/2 cups of the rice, and salt. Boil until rice is al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain and let rice cool.
• In a medium skillet over medium-low heat, heat oil and add onions. Sauté until golden, about 10 minutes. Add raisins and barberries and sauté a minute or two. Add rice, sour salt, lemon powder or lemon juice, and 2 to 3 tablespoons vinegar syrup (enough for a balance of sweet and sour). Save remaining syrup.
• Pour 1/2 cup water into a heavy 5-quart pot and scatter in remaining 3 tablespoons rice, to prevent leaves from sticking to pot. On a work surface, place a grape leaf dull side up, and place 1 tablespoon of rice mixture close to the stem. Fold over both sides of leaf and roll up to close. Place seam side down in pot, continuing until there is a single tightly packed layer. Scatter half the apricots and prunes on top. Make a second layer and scatter remaining fruit on top.
• Add 1/4 cup water to reserved syrup and pour over stuffed grape leaves. Place small heat-proof plate on leaves as weight. Cover pot tightly, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer until leaves are tender, about 1 hour. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• In a skillet, heat oil and saut onion and mushrooms until soft.
• Add parsley and spices.
• Transfer to a bowl.
• Mix in peas and rice.
• Preheat oven to 350.
• Line a 3-qt baking dish with a few grape leaves to keep stuffed leaves from sticking and burning.
• Place 1 heaping Tbs of rice mixture (depending on size of leaf) in the center of a grape leaf.
• Fold in sides, then roll leaf from stem to tip.
• Place in casserole.
• Repeat procedure with remaining grape leaves until rice mixture is used up.
• Pour water in bottom of dish (to provent sticking and drying out).
• Bake for 25 minutes.