- Grape leaves (either fresh or in a jar) can be purchased at Mediterranean restaurants and markets.
- 2 lbs ground meat (sirloin or lamb)
- 2 cups of rice (Uncle Ben's is BEST)
- œ spoon black pepper (optional)
- œ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon all-spice
- œ teaspoon nutmeg
- Salt (to your liking, about 1 Tablespoon)
- œ cup butter
- OPTION: Sliced fresh tomatoes (maybe 2)
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice (2-3)
- 1. Rinse the rice, and then soak it in a bowl of hot water for at least half an hour. Afterwards, drain the water and mix the meat, butter and spices with the rice.
- 2. Wash the leaves (if they are from a jar) and trim the long stems. If they are fresh leaves, quickly dip the leaves in a pot of boiling water until it changes colors.
- 3. Rolling Grape Leaves: Place about a tablespoon of the rice and meat mixture on the center of the grape leaf. When rolling the grape leaves, make sure that the vein side of the leaf faces up when you are rolling (the veins should NOT show once the grape leaf is rolled). The grape
should be rolled tightly and firmly using a "Tuck and Roll" technique.
