Grape Leaves
Grape Leaves
Ingredients:
(Makes 35 to 40 pieces)
1) 1 lb. jar grape leaves, pickled
2) 1 lb. diced tomatoes (save both ends for
bottom of cook pot)
3) 1/2 cup chopped onions
4) 3/4 cup chick peas cooked or 1/4 cup uncooked
5) 1 cup parsley chopped
6) 1 cup short grain rice, uncooked
7) 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
8) 1/2 cup water
9) 1/3 cup olive oil
10) 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
11) 1/2 teaspoon all spice
12) 1 tablespoon dry mint
13) salt to taste
Preparation
1) Mix everything together
and get ready to wrap. As you
separate the grape leaves, set aside any that are torn or
broken leaves...to use as top and bottom layers when cooking.
2) To stuff, place one
leaf, smooth side down, with stem end
facing you. Put 1 large tablespoon filling in the center of the
leaf. Roll stem end over the filling and fold sides to the center,
making an envelope. Continue to roll the leaf up, toward the tip.
3) Make a layer in the
bottom of a 3 quart pot with 1/2 of the torn
or broken leaves, tomato ends, and potato slices. The idea is to
keep the stuffed leaves from direct contact with the bottom of
the pot. Arrange rolled leaves, loose flap down, in tight parallel
rows. Change direction of each layer by 90 degrees. Cover the
top layer with the remaining broken leaves.
4) Find a plate of slightly
smaller diameter than that of the pot...
and invert it to cover the grape leaves; the weight of the plate
will help keep the grape leaves intact and submerged during
cooking. Strain the remaining juice from the stuffing bowl into
the pot. If not enough to cover slightly above the plate, add
water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 45 minutes.
Hommos
Ingredients:
(Makes 1 serving)
1) 2 cups chick peas, cooked (never use canned)
2) 1 cup tahini
3) 2 tsp. salt
4) 1/3 cup water
5) 1/3 cup lemon juice fresh and squeezed
6) 3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
7) paprika, parsley, and olive oil for garnish
The Night Before:
Soak 1 cup dried chick peas in three times their volume
of water
overnight with one teaspoon baking soda. This
will soften them
and therefore help reduce the cooking time.
Preparation:
1) Rinse chick peas under cold water, then put them
in a saucepan.
Cover with cold water and
add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.
2) Bring to a full boil, then simmer for about 1/2
hour or until very
tender.
3) Stir occasionally, and remove excess foam from
top.
4) It's very important to let peas cool before using.
5) Put them in a blender or food processor, reserving
a few whole
peas for the garnish.
Process chick peas, tahini, salt and garlic
cloves until very smooth
and lighter in color.
6) Add in the lemon while blending, scraping sides
of the processor
bowl. Add water
while blending. It's difficult to give exact
amount of lemon juice
as sizes and tastes vary, so we suggest
you add it gradually
and decide for yourself how sour you like
your hommos.
7) If the puree is too thick, use a little water
to thin it down...the
puree should be soft
and creamy, but not runny.
Notes:
Serve in a shallow dish and garnish with olive oil,
paprika, and
parsley. We recommend fresh ingredients always
be used, since it
will make it taste so much better.
Tabouleh Salad
Ingredients:
(Makes 6 servings)
1) 1/2 each onion chopped
2) 4 bunches parsley chopped fine
3) 1/2 cup lemon juice fresh and squeezed
4) 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
5) 1/4 cup bulgur #1
6) 2 each tomatoes diced small
7) 2 tbsp. mint leaves, fresh and finely chopped
8) 1 pinch all spice to taste
9) 1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Put everything except parsley and olive oil together
in a large bowl and
mix well. Add the parsley and oil and mix again.
Note:
Tabouleh can only be great if the parsley and mint
are hand chopped
with a very sharp knife to avoid bruising. Traditionally...tabouleh
is
eaten using lettuce, fresh vine leaves, or white cabbage
as scoops. You
can use a fork too, of course.
Good Eating!!!