Dolmades are stuffed vine leafs filled with minced meat and rice or when made vegan, just with rice and herbs.
If you are using fresh vine leaves wash and then put them in a sauce pan with plenty of water and boil for 5 minutes. If you are using frozen ones, follow the same procedure without defrosting them and then remove cling film. Cool them in cold water and strain them.
Place one of the leaves, vein side facing up, on a plate and put a spoonful of the mixture near the stem. Make sure to remove the stem.
Neatly fold one side.
Then the other.
Wrap up into a cigar shape (don’t fold too tight as the rice will expand during cooking).
Repeat with the remaining grape leaves and filling. Place in the pan starting from the edge to the centre. Second and third layers may be placed on top then cover with the plate (which must be exactly the size of the pan.
This is done so that when the dolmades are boiling will not open).
Cover with the plate and cook according to the recipe.
Other relevant recipes:
Dolmades me Avgolemono (egg-lemon sauce)
Kremmydia Gemista (Stuffed Onions)
Koupepia me Lahana and not Lahanodolmades (Koupepia with Swiss Chard)
Vegetarian Dolmades with Mushrooms and Leeks
Koupepia me ampelofylla (with vine leaves)
Kolokythia Gemista (Stuffed Courgettes)
Kopiaste and Kali Orexi!