Lahanodolmadés
Ingredients
For the filling
1/2 kg minced beef
250 gm long grain ‘easy cook’ rice (uncooked)
1 medium onion very finely chopped
2 tabs chopped parsley
2 tabs chopped dill
salt
ground black pepper
1 medium tomato – grated with the coarse side of a grater
1 medium tomato – coarsely chopped
150 ml olive oil
100 gm butter
For the sauce
2 eggs
A little salt
Juice of one lemon – add about half the juice to start with and add more if you feel it needs it.
Mix the mince, the rice, onion, parsley, dill and grated tomato in a bowl. Mix it well with your hands and add the olive oil and seasoning – about2-3 teaspoons of salt is about right.
Put a small spoonful of the mixture at one side of a cabbage leaf and roll it into a bundle. Do this until all the mixture and leaves are used up.
Butter a deep metal pan (it’s good to line the bottom of the pan with a leaf or two) and pack in the cabbage bundles – there must be no space between them. Place a few leaves over the top of the parcels.
Slowly add enough cold water to cover and also the chopped tomato – dot with any remaining butter. Carefully, place a heat-resistant plate on top – this holds everything in place whilst cooking.
Simmer, gently for about 40 minutes, ensuring that there is enough water in the pan so that it doesn’t boil dry.
At the end of the cooking time, gently lift off the plate and peel back the covering leaves. Lift out a cabbage parcel to see if the rice has cooked – a little more cooking may be needed.
When they are cooked allow to cool slightly while you make the mixture for the egg and lemon sauce.
Beat the eggs in a fairly large bowl with a pinch of salt. You need a good sized bowl as,eventually you will add most of the cooking liquid – not yet though !
Next gradually add the lemon juice, beating all the time. Now gradually add the warm cooking liquid to the egg and lemon mixture, beating all the time. This is really crucial as you don’t want the mixture to curdle. Beat in as much of the cooking liquid as possible.
Finally, pour the egg,lemon,liquor mixture back into the pan with the cabbage parcels and leave to stand – this will allow the sauce to thicken.
The only accompaniment you will need for this are slices of feta.
Hi there. I’m wanting to make your delicious-looking stuffed cabbage leaves.
Hopefully I’m not being daft, but the ingredients for the sauce seem to be missing? Could you let me know what they are, please?
Thank you
Gosh !! Well spotted ! Apologies!!! Updating the recipe page now !!
🙂
Thank you so much! X
Glad to have it pointed out !
All updated !
I’m loving your recipes! I made the moussaka last week and have made the stuffed cabbage leaves and also the spinach pie this afternoon! Thank you.
Oh David ! You can’t imagine how pleaded that makes me ! Thank you ! Would love to see some photos !
I’m not sure how to send photos to you on here? But very happy to. I’ve snapped the moussaka already as that’s been cooked and eaten already! The pie and cabbage leaves are prepared and will be cooked tonight/tomorrow – I’m pleased that they look good and a bit like yours!
Ah that’s amazing! Please send them to kouzinacooking@gmail.com Really looking forward to seeing them !
Hope the taste good too – kali orexi!