Dolmades with AvgolemonoDolmades with Avgolemono

Evan GrothEvan GrothEnglish 393English 393

December 8th 2009December 8th 2009

IntroductionIntroduction

Definition: Dolma is a verbal noun Definition: Dolma is a verbal noun of the Turkish verb dolmak “to be of the Turkish verb dolmak “to be stuffed,” and means simply "stuffed stuffed,” and means simply "stuffed thing.”thing.”

The following instructions explain The following instructions explain how to prepare Greek dolmades with how to prepare Greek dolmades with avgolemono sauce.avgolemono sauce.

Audience: any skill-level person who Audience: any skill-level person who enjoys cooking Greek cuisine.enjoys cooking Greek cuisine.

Recipe InformationRecipe Information

Time to prepare: 70 minutes.Time to prepare: 70 minutes. Makes: 30 to 35 dolmas.Makes: 30 to 35 dolmas. Original recipe adapted from Original recipe adapted from Marisa Churchill (Greek Top Marisa Churchill (Greek Top Chef Contender) online @ Chef Contender) online @ www.chow.comwww.chow.com

Recipe IngredientsRecipe Ingredients Dolmades:Dolmades:

30 Grape leaves, fresh or jarred.30 Grape leaves, fresh or jarred. 1 Pound ground beef.1 Pound ground beef. ½ Medium yellow onion, chopped finely.½ Medium yellow onion, chopped finely. ½ Cup white rice.½ Cup white rice. 6 Tablespoons olive oil.6 Tablespoons olive oil. ¼ Cup chopped fresh mint.¼ Cup chopped fresh mint. 4 Teaspoons kosher salt.4 Teaspoons kosher salt. ½ Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.½ Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. 2 Cups low-sodium chicken broth.2 Cups low-sodium chicken broth.

Avgolemono:Avgolemono: 3 Large eggs.3 Large eggs. 1/3 Cup lemon juice (from 2 medium lemons).1/3 Cup lemon juice (from 2 medium lemons). 1 Cup hot reserved cooking liquid from dolmades.1 Cup hot reserved cooking liquid from dolmades.

Dolmades Cooking InstructionsDolmades Cooking Instructions

1.1. Prepare an ice water bath and set aside.Prepare an ice water bath and set aside.2.2. For the grape leaves, bring a medium pot of For the grape leaves, bring a medium pot of

water to a rolling boil over hot heat, add grape water to a rolling boil over hot heat, add grape leaves, and cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until leaves, and cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until leaves are tender.leaves are tender.

3.3. Remove grape leaves from the water and submerge Remove grape leaves from the water and submerge them in the ice bath from step 1.them in the ice bath from step 1.

4.4. While the leaves cool, combine all remaining While the leaves cool, combine all remaining ingredients except 2 tablespoons of the olive ingredients except 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and the chicken broth in a medium bowl, and oil and the chicken broth in a medium bowl, and mix until thoroughly combined. This creates the mix until thoroughly combined. This creates the filling to be used when wrapping the dolmades.filling to be used when wrapping the dolmades.

Wrapping the DolmasWrapping the Dolmas

Lay out one Lay out one grape leaf grape leaf and remove and remove the tough the tough stem. Place stem. Place two to three two to three teaspoons of teaspoons of filling in filling in the center. the center.

Wrapping the Dolmas p2Wrapping the Dolmas p2

Carefully fold Carefully fold the top and the top and sides of the sides of the leaf over the leaf over the filling.filling.

Wrapping the Dolmas p3.Wrapping the Dolmas p3.

Roll the grape Roll the grape leaf tightly leaf tightly into a cylinder into a cylinder form to resemble form to resemble a miniature a miniature football.football.

Dolmades Cooking Instructions p2Dolmades Cooking Instructions p2

1.1. Arrange dolmades side by side in a medium Arrange dolmades side by side in a medium saucepan until the bottom of the pan is saucepan until the bottom of the pan is completely covered.completely covered.

2.2. Continue layering dolmades until they are all in Continue layering dolmades until they are all in the pan. Add chicken broth and the two remaining the pan. Add chicken broth and the two remaining tablespoons of olive oil.tablespoons of olive oil.

3.3. Cover the pan and cook over medium until Cover the pan and cook over medium until dolmades are cooked through, taking dolmades are cooked through, taking approximately 35 minutes.approximately 35 minutes.

4.4. Remove dolmades to a serving platter, and Remove dolmades to a serving platter, and measure remaining cooking liquid, reserving one measure remaining cooking liquid, reserving one cup to make the avgolemono sauce.cup to make the avgolemono sauce.

5.5. Cover dolmades loosely to keep warm.Cover dolmades loosely to keep warm.

Avgolemono Cooking InstructionsAvgolemono Cooking Instructions

1.1. In an electric mixer fitted In an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, beat with the whip attachment, beat eggs on high speed until they eggs on high speed until they begin to get foamy, about begin to get foamy, about three minutes.three minutes.

2.2. Add lemon juice in a steady Add lemon juice in a steady stream, and continue beating stream, and continue beating for about an additional for about an additional minute.minute.

3.3. Add hot cooking liquid saved Add hot cooking liquid saved from the dolmades and whip for from the dolmades and whip for another minute.another minute.

4.4. Pour sauce back into the pot Pour sauce back into the pot used to cook the dolmades or used to cook the dolmades or into another medium pot. into another medium pot. Stirring constantly, heat Stirring constantly, heat sauce over low heat until sauce over low heat until steaming, about three minutes. steaming, about three minutes. DO NOT LET THE SAUCE BOILDO NOT LET THE SAUCE BOIL..

5.5. Season sauce with kosher salt Season sauce with kosher salt and pour over warm dolmades or and pour over warm dolmades or serve on the side.serve on the side.

Dolmades with Avgolemono (notes)Dolmades with Avgolemono (notes)

The dolmades and avgolemono are The dolmades and avgolemono are served best with a light citric wine.served best with a light citric wine.

The dish functions wonderfully as an The dish functions wonderfully as an appetizer or entrée.appetizer or entrée.

Attending Greek church events and Attending Greek church events and street events are reliable ways to street events are reliable ways to sample authentic Greek dolmades.sample authentic Greek dolmades.