Stuffed Vine Leaves in Olive Oil
The head of the olive-oil dishes: rice filling rolled in vine leaves, cooked slowly with lemon and olive oil. Served cold.
- Time
- 90 minutes
- Serves
- 6
- Level
- Hard
- Cuisine
- Turkish

Directions
- Blanch the vine leaves in boiling water to draw out the salt; cut away the thick stems.
- Soften the onion and pine nuts in half a cup of the olive oil until pale gold.
- Add the rice and stir for 3-4 minutes. Add the currants, spices, salt and pepper.
- Pour in half a cup of hot water and cook until absorbed; take off the heat and stir through the dill and mint.
- Once the filling has cooled, place a teaspoonful on the veined side of each leaf and roll tightly.
- Line the base of a pan with torn leaves and lemon slices, then pack the rolls in snugly.
- Pour over the remaining olive oil and the lemon juice. Set a plate on top and add hot water to just cover.
- Cook over low heat for 45-50 minutes. Let them cool in the pan and serve at room temperature.
Related
Recipe
Savoury Olive Cake
A breakfast cake bringing together brined olives and olive oil — a Turkish take on the Italian savoury cake tradition.
Recipe
Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
Naples' bold pasta: black olives, capers, anchovy and tomato — all in twenty minutes.
Recipe
Horiatiki (Greek Village Salad)
Greece's national salad: Kalamata olives, ripe tomato, cucumber and a whole slab of feta. Plain, and exactly right.