Dolmeh-yeh Barg-e Mow



Ingredients: (4 servings)


fresh vine leaves, 250 grams
ground lamb or beef, 250 grams
long-grain or basmati rice, 100 grams
herbs: parsley, dill, mint, tarragon, spring onions, 250 grams
large onions, two
cooking oil
tomato paste, two spoons
salt
black pepper
fresh lime juice, 1/2 cup
sugar, two spoons


Directions:


Fry onions in cooking oil over medium heat until golden. Add ground
meat and fry further until meat changes color. Add 1/2 cup water,
salt, pepper and tomato paste. Mix and cook further until water
boils off.


Wash and finely chop the herbs. Fry in oil over medium heat until wilted.
Boil two cups of water in a small pot. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and
rice and boil further until rice softens. Drain the water and let
cool slightly.


Mix prepared meat, herbs and rice well. Remove any remaining stems
from vine leaves, and wash. Add hot water and salt and boil for 1-2
minutes until leaves soften slightly. Drain water and allow to cool.

Mix lime juice, sugar, salt and pepper. Add half to the mix prepared
earlier, and mix well. Pour 2-3 spoons of oil in a pot. Place 2 or 3
layers of vine leaves in the pot. Stack two leaves covering the
cracks, place some of the Dolmeh mix on top and wrap the leaves
tightly around it. Repeat until all leaves or the entire mix is
used up. Place the dolmeh's in the pot packed together. Add oil
and 1/2 glass of hot water. Cover and cook over low heat for
about 20-30 minutes. If necessary, add more hot water during
cooking. Add the remainder of the lime juice and sugar mix
and cook for another 2-3 minutes.


Roxana & Farzin Mokhtarian

F.Mokhtarian@ee.surrey.ac.uk