What is the first thing that comes to your mind when we say Turkish cuisine? Of course, rice stuffed grape leaves! It is a classic Mediterranean dish with a tangy flavor. Although this dish is a bit time-consuming, it is not so hard to make and definitely worth the time.

In Cook and Share November 2009, we learned how to make stuffed grape leaves. We even had a little competition for who is going to wrap the best ’sarma’ in less time. Some of our guests surprised us with their talents.

It was very funny wrapping the grape leaves together. We gave a gift for the best wrapper.

If you want to give it a try, here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound grape leaves
• 1 and 1/2 cups rice
• 2 medium tomato peeled and petite diced
• finely chopped parsley
• 1 big onion or 2 small ones
• 2 cloves garlic

Spices:

• 1-2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried mint
• 1/3 tsp cumin

• 1 tbsp pepper paste
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups hot water

Preparation:

Wash the rice and drain, put em in a bowl. Add spices, olive oil, tomato and pepper paste. Put the vegetables, peeled and finely diced tomato, onion, garlic, parsley, one by one. Mix them all with the help of a big spoon.

After you make sure they mixed well, use a teaspoon to put some this mix on to a grape leaf. bend both side of leaf over the mixture and roll it. Do the same thing untill you complete all the leaves.

Put the stuffed leaves in to a deep pan and pour 2 cups of hot water on it slowly. Cook it 35~40 minutes.

P.S If you want it more delicious, you can add 2 or 3 tbs olive oil and 1 lemon juice in to hot water before you pour it over stuffed leaves. This will make them both delicious and soft.

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