Recipe#6688

Title: BYZANTINE DOLMATHES (STUFFED GRAPELEAVES)

  From: "The Complete Greek Cookbook" by Theresa Karas Yianilos.  Avenel
  Books, New York.
  
  Typed for you by Karen Mintzias

   1                    Jar grapeleaves (or fresh)
                        -----FILLING-----
   2       tb           Oil
   1       lb           Ground beef or lamb
   2                    Onions -- chopped
   1                    Garlic clove -- pressed
   2       c            Water
     1/2   c            Tomato sauce
   1       c            Rice
   2       tb           Chopped mint
   2       tb           Chopped parsley
     1/2   ts           Salt
                        Pepper to taste
     1/8   ts           Cinnamon
     1/2   c            Currants
     1/4   c            Port wine (optional)
     1/4   c            Pine nuts or walnuts
   2       c            Water
   1                    Lemon (juice only)
                        -----SAUCE-----
   3                    Eggs
   2                    Lemons (stained juice only)
   1       c            Hot broth
  If using canned grape leaves, rinse off brine by floating leaves in a basin
  of cold water.  Prepare fresh vine leaves by pouring a cup of boiling water
  over them in a bowl.  Drain.  Spread 5 or 6 leaves out at a time on a flat
  surface.  Lay leaf stem side up.  Snip off stem with kitchen shears.
  
  MAKE FILLING:  Heat oil in large frying pan.  Fry meat, onions and garlic
  on medium heat for 5 minutes, mixing it as it cooks.  Add water and
  remaining ingredients.  Bring to a boil.  Cover.  Reduce heat to simmer and
  cook 10 minutes, until water is absorbed.  Set aside until cool enough to
  handle.  Put 1 teaspoon of filling near stem.  Bring left side of leaf
  towards center, then bring right side towards center.  They will not always
  meet.  Pick up stem end of leaf, tucking in the filling.  Roll away from
  you.  It will be an oblong roll like a sausage.
  
  Line the bottom of a large skillet with 4 leaves.  Place each roll so that
  the tucked under end is on the bottom.  Arrange each roll snugly, one next
  to the other, until all the leaves (except 3), and filling are gone. Place
  these leaves flat on top of rolls.  Place a flat dish on top of rolls also
  to prevent their unravelling during cooking.
  
  Add water and lemon juice.  Bring to a boil.  Cover.  Reduce heat to simmer
  and cook 45 minutes.  When done, remove pot from fire.  Make Egg and Lemon
  Sauce and add to broth immediately or serve without sauce either cold as an
  appetizer or as a hot entree.
  
  EGG AND LEMON SAUCE: Beat eggs until thick and light yellow, at least 5
  minutes, with an electric beater or 10 to 15 minutes by hand.  Add juice
  slowly, beating all the while.  Mix 1 cup hot broth into beaten eggs,
  stirring it in quickly with spoon (or wire whisk) so heat will not curdle
  the eggs.  Cook over very low heat until thickened.