Dolmades are a traditional Greek dish made with grape or cabbage leaves filled with minced meat, onions, pine nuts, rice, garlic, and seasonings. They are baked in chicken broth and served with an egg and lemon juice sauce.
Dolma or dolmades is a traditional component of Greek cuisine. While the ingredients for the filling vary slightly, the wrapper for dolmades is traditionally grape leaves. However, it is considered acceptable to use cabbage leaves for the dish.
The beauty of dolmades is that a vast combination of ingredients can be used with this staple Greek food. Generally, there is some type of minced meat included in the filler. Typically, the meat used will be beef or lamb, although minced chicken can also be used. The meat is accompanied by other foods such as onions, pine nuts, rice, garlic, chopped or pureed tomatoes and a number of different seasonings.
All ingredients are placed in the center of the grape leaf. Generally, a heaping tablespoon is considered a sufficient amount for filler. After folding the sides of the grape leaves over the filler and rolling the leaves to create a sealed pouch, the stuffed grape leaves are placed in a baking dish. If a large batch of dolmades is being prepared, it is acceptable to layer the stuffed leaves inside the pan.
Once the dolmades have been layered in the pan, the chicken broth is added. The broth should be poured over the stuffed grape leaves, using enough liquid to cover the top layer. Using an oven preheated to 375°F, the dolmata should cook for one hour.
Most recipes for dolmades include a thin sauce that is poured over the stuffed grape leaves. A simple recipe for this sauce calls for a couple of eggs and some lemon juice. Eggs are whisked in a bowl over simmering water, which helps give the batter a frothy appearance. Lemon juice is added during the beating process. As the dolmades emerge from the oven, this egg and lemon juice mixture is poured over them. Alternatively, this concoction, sometimes referred to as avgolemeno sauce, can be served on the side and used as a dipping sauce.
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