Name: Lebanese Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab)
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: لبنانية
Ingredients: 40 fresh or jarred grape leaves; 1 cup Egyptian rice, soaked; 2 tomatoes, finely diced; Bunch of parsley, finely chopped; 2 tbsp dried mint; 1/4 cup olive oil; Juice of 3 lemons; 3 garlic cloves; Salt and black pepper

Delicate grape leaves rolled around a rice, tomato, and herb filling, slow-cooked until tender with a refreshing tangy edge.

المقادير

40 fresh or jarred grape leaves

1 cup Egyptian rice, soaked

2 tomatoes, finely diced

Bunch of parsley, finely chopped

2 tbsp dried mint

1/4 cup olive oil

Juice of 3 lemons

3 garlic cloves

Salt and black pepper

خطوات التحضير

If using fresh grape leaves, blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes until pliable, then drain and cool.

Mix the soaked rice with tomato, parsley, dried mint, half the olive oil, salt, and pepper for the filling.

Lay each leaf shiny-side down, place a teaspoon of filling near the stem, and roll tightly into a thin cylinder, folding in the sides.

Pack the rolls tightly in a pot lined with grape leaves and garlic cloves at the bottom to prevent sticking.

Mix water with lemon juice and the remaining olive oil, and pour over the rolls until just covered.

Place a heavy plate on top to hold the rolls in place, and simmer on low heat for 45 minutes until the rice is cooked and the leaves are tender.

نصيحة

Don't roll too tightly since the rice expands during cooking — a medium-tight roll prevents bursting and keeps the rolls intact.

Stuffed grape leaves are among the most iconic Lebanese and Levantine appetizers, also known as «dolma» in some regions. Fresh grape leaves are picked in spring and preserved boiled for year-round use, or ready-made jarred leaves are used for convenience.

Lebanese warak enab differs from its Turkish counterpart in its light vegetarian filling of rice, tomato, parsley, and mint, cooked with lemon juice and olive oil for a refreshingly tangy result. It's often made meatless and served as a cold or warm starter.