Paleo Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmas)
I’ve probably eaten hundreds (if not thousands) of stuffed grape leaves in my life. And about 99% of them were made by my dad. We always called them “stuffed grape leaves,” never dolmas, and they were pretty straight forward: white rice, lamb, minimal seasonings, and a light coating of lemon-egg sauce. We’d soak the leaves in the sink (never in a bowl), then my dad and I would divvy up the responsibilities: one of us separating leaves and scooping filling — the other one rolling and positioning in the pressure cooker.
According to the Dolmas entry on the all-knowing oracle that is Wikipedia, “dolma” is the noun form of the Turkish verb dolmak, which means “to be stuffed” (which sounds kinda like an insult: “Get stuffed, you freakin’ leaf!”). If you’re at all interested in how different cuisines adapt iconic dishes (guilty as charged), the Wiki page is a fun read. Iraqi cooks use pomegranate juice! In Egypt, they make ‘em really small! And this tidbit was too tasty to not share with you:
In Sweden, Kåldolmar is a Swedish dish inspired by dolma, probably brought to Sweden by king Karl XII who was held captive by the Turks in Bender after losing the Battle of Poltava against the Russians in 1709. It is made of cabbage instead of grape leaves and contains minced pork or beef and rice. It is eaten with boiled potatoes, brown sauce and lingonberry jam.
Lingonberry jam! I’m intrigued.
We almost always ate stuffed grape leaves with the lemon-egg sauce which is, apparently, the Greek way (avgolemono is the Greek name for the sauce), although I like to think of it as the Tom Joulwan way. I liked to munch on stuffed grape leaves straight out of the refrigerator so the rice was very firm and the leaves snapped as my teeth broke through them. I wondered if I could replicate that solid-but-tender experience with cauliflower rice and was really happy to find that after a nice chill in the fridge, these stuffed grape leaves are close enough to the real thing to satisfy my memories and my taste buds.
Paleo Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmas)
Prep 20 min. | Cook 25 min. | Makes about 30 dolmas
Ingredients:
1 8-ounce jar grape leaves (I used Mezzeta.)
1/2 head raw cauliflower
2 tablespoons pine nuts (optional)
2 tablespoons raisins or currants (optional)
1 pound ground lamb (I like Lava Lake Lamb; 100% grassfed.)
1/2 medium raw onion
1 tablespoon dried mint
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 fresh lemons
1 large eggNOTE: I used small amounts of the nuts and raisins since they’re “paleo” but they’re also kinda borderline in terms of nutrition. If you’re feeling like splurging, up the amount to 1/4 cup each. If you’re feeling strict, skip them completely.
Directions:
1. Carefully remove the leaves from the jar and place in the sink or a large bowl. Cover with hot water and allow to soak at least 15 minutes. Meanwhile, break the cauliflower into florets, removing the stems. Place the florets in the food processor bowl and pulse until the cauliflower looks like rice. This takes about 10 to 15 one-second pulses. Place “rice” in a large mixing bowl and put the bowl back on the food processor; no need to clean it yet.
2. Heat a dry skillet over medium high heat, then add pine nuts and raisins, stirring often and cooking until the pine nuts are lightly toasted, about 3-5 minutes. Set aside to cool, then coarsely chop. (I like to coarsely chop the pine nuts and raisins so I get a little in every bite.) Add the nuts and raisins to the rice in the bowl.
3. Place the lamb, onion, mint, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor and run the motor until the ingredients form a paté and everything is combined. Add the lamb paté to the rice and mix well. The easiest way to do this is with your hands: run them under a little cold water and dig in.
4. In a large saucepan, place a few reject leaves — the ones that are torn or small — to cover the bottom of the pan. Drain the water from the rest of the leaves and get ready to start rolling…
5. Place a leaf on a flat surface with the shiny side facing down, snip off the stem, and place about 1 tablespoon of filling on the end of the leaf closest to you. Roll from the bottom, fold in the sides, and keep rolling ’til you have a cigar shape. You want to roll them pretty tightly so they don’t come apart during the cooking process. (NOTE: This is different than traditional dolmas where you want to leave a little wiggle room for the rice to expand during cooking. The cauliflower actually shrinks as it cooks, so roll them up tight!) Place the rolls in the pan and nestle them up against each other pretty snuggly. Here’s a handy video to show you how it’s done. (I forbid Dave from shooting my face, but dig my cute polka dot dress!)
6. Cut one of the lemons into thin slices and arrange the slices on top of the dolmas in the pan. Place a heat-proof plate on top of the dolmas and press down, then add water to the pan to cover the plate with about 1 inch of water. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil. As soon as the water is rolling, turn the heat way down to a gentle simmer and cook 25-30 minutes, until the leaves are tender but still have a little bite left in ‘em.
7. Carefully remove the plate and drain all the water from the pan — you might need to remove the dolmas to do this. Put the dolmas back in the pan and cover wth the lid so they stay hot. In a small bowl, whisk the juice from the remaining lemon with the egg until frothy. Pour over the dolmas, then put the lid back on and let them work their magic. The hot dolmas gently cook the egg/lemon sauce to create a tangy coating.
8. Remove the dolmas from the pan, place covered in the fridge, and wait until they’re chilled. They taste great cold, room temp, or hot — but are best if reheated, rather than eaten immediately when they come out of the pan. I like to eat them cold with a sprinkle of coarse salt and a tiny drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.
Paleo Stuffed Grape Leaves Taste Great With…
Baba Ghanoush
Lebanese Onion & Parsley Salad
Turkish Chopped Salad
Belly Dance Beet Salad
Cumin-Roasted Carrots
Tahini Dressing
Spiced Olives
A few words about buying lamb: I’m a new and forever fan of Lava Lake Lamb; read my review here. I should tell you that I received a lovely package of complimentary lamb from Lava Lake, but from now on, I’ll be buying my own. It’s that good, and I have zero interest in eating the somewhat bland lamb of questionable origin available at the grocery store.
Tags: cauliflower, dino-chow, lamb, Middle Eastern, paleo
41 Responses to “Paleo Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmas)”
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Wow, that looks awesome! Since going paleo, I have indulged in grape leaves sparingly. I have never made them but can’t wait to try now using cauliflower.
Thanks for sharing, I really need to purchase your cookbook if there are similar recipes like this.
New follower!!
YAY! Glad you found me. And yes, there are lots of crazy-good recipes in Well Fed. Did you get the free preview?!
http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/well-fed-ebook-sampler/
I *DO* dig your polka dot dress!
Also, these look delicious…bookmarked!
My polka dots and I thank you!
Growing up in a Lebanese household, I was likely to be sent into the backyard to pick grape leaves. The grape vines we had probably produced fruit, since we live in the hot San Joaquin valley, but we grew them for their tender leaves.
I must try this recipe. It’s been a very long time since I’ve had stuffed grape leaves, which is the only name they had in our house, too.
My family is part Lebanese, and we have a grapevine in our backyard, too! At one point, I think it got mowed down by our neighbor who cut our grass. I would LOVE to have a vine in my yard now.
I have been thinking about dolmas and paleo alot lately. I love them but right now everyone is making the all rice Lenten version and I am torn between thinking Paleo is the way to go and trying to observe Lent. I am Orthodox Christion in a church that has people of many different ethnicities such as Lebanese, Ethiopian, Georgian, Ukranian and Greek. I make the dolmas with lemon but no egg. Perhaps I could make them with cauliflower and no meat for now. Thank you for the recipe and the inspiration.
If you make them without meat, increase the amount of cauliflower — use a whole head, I think — and maybe add a little more raising and pine nuts. You might also try adding some egg to the raw cauliflower to help the ingredients stick together. Good luck! Let me know if you try it and how they turn out!
All my mom’s family are from Sweden and we enjoy Kåldolmar every year at Christmas time!
I really want to try that version!
Perfect timing! I’m going to a potluck this weekend and was wondering what to make.
Thanks for all you do!
Glad to help. Have fun at the potluck! I’m making a pilgrimmage to our new Austin Penzeys this weekend. YAY
Penzeys trip sounds like fun. Enjoy!
I was introduced to them as “sarma” by Serbian friends when I was a kid…I love them. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
YES!!! I have been thinking about trying something like this, we are heavily greek and I miss my dolmas more than anything. Seriously, thank you.
[...] Paleo Stuffed Grape Leaves [...]
Made these tonight. Did not weigh down the plate enough at first, but they seem intact. Will let you know how they turn out tomorrow!
Oh I forgot to ask! How long do I leave them sitting in the pot with the lemon & egg?
Everyone loved these! Thanks so much for the fantastic recipe.
I just finished eating a batch of these, following the recipe above exactly. If you like Dolmas, you probably like grape leaves. I never had Dolmas before so I had to get used to the texture and ruffage like feel of the grape leaves. I’m kinda on the fence about them, but the Dolmas as a whole were pretty yummy, and I think the lemon-egg glaze really helped push them into the yummy category. I agree with Mel, best eaten cold. I bought her Well Fed cookbook as my first Paelo cookbook, and it is really helping me to enjoy the new diet. She is hooking me on using cumin in everything! Favorite recipe so far is that caramelized pork where you boil it down in the lemon and lime juice (I used boneless pork ribs). I like Mel’s humor and background stories as well. I never thought cauliflower could be used in so many ways!
Yeah, the grape leaves are a unique flavor and texture sensation, but once you fall for them, you’re in for life!
So glad you’re enjoying Well Fed — thanks for stopping by and letting me know. Happy cooking and eating to you!
oh we might have to fight, i’m part syrian. lol our family never had the sweet ones. it was straight up meat and rice with lemon. my mom still picks her leaves every year. i’ve also seen a version with a diced tomato that’s pretty good.
It’s so ON. Rumble in the parking lot after school!
I’m so excited to make these! I’m used to the Greek version, dolmades, but haven’t been indulging due to the rice issue. Thank you! On a totally different note, have you made beef jerky? I really think that’s next, but I don’t want to buy the dehydrator and find out that I’ve made something that gives me lock-jaw. I know there are plenty of paleo-peeps that have done this, but am suspicious since you haven’t. I want to be supportive of anyone living the paleo lifestyle, but honestly I’d trade all of my other paelo cookbooks for yours and yours alone.
YAY! I’m glad you’re excited to try these. They’re pretty freaking good — especially cold.
As for beef jerky… I’ve never made it. Mostly because I just don’t like it all that much. It’s great for roadtrips or hikes where I’m not sure I’ll a fridge, but then, honestly, I buy Primal Pacs. http://www.primalpacs.com/ They use grass-fed beef, the prices aren’t bad, and the taste is really great. Sorry I can’t be more help… especially after your TOTALLY AWESOME compliments on Well Fed. Thank you. Very much.
I made these and they are great! Went together well and I don’t even notice the substitution of the cauliflower for the rice. Which is great since my son is allergic to rice. I did find them to be a little on the bland side for me. The traditional ones made by a Greek restaurant in town I use to eat at were always a favorite for lunch, can you suggest some ways to add a bit more flavor? The bites I get currents and pine nuts are awesome! But it’s missing something for my palette, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Thank you for your suggestions!!
Try adding more salt… I think the next time I make them, I’ll up the salt factor quite a bit. If you want to add some herb zing, mint would be tasty. Or if you want them spicy-hot, try adding some Aleppo pepper.
Mel,
I am in love with your cookbooks, and everything I’ve made so far as been exceptional…but these were definitely lacking seasoning. I love the recipe, and I think I may try doubling the herb/spices next time around. I used mac nuts and a few golden raisins and those bites are good. I just think a lot more salt will make them pop. Plus, all that cauli rice is pretty bland so you need something to compensate with. Thanks so much for all your hard work and creativity. I’ll let you know how doubling everything goes next time I make these.
New to paleo & have been eating almost all from Well Fed. I am going to give these grape leaves a try for my second party in 2 days since yesterday all I could eat was crudities and the kale chips that I brought. You have been very inspiring for me as I try to overhaul my eating habits. Thank you!
Congrats on making the switch to paleo. I’m glad Well Fed has been helping you along, and I hope your party was fun (and tasty)!
Party report: everyone loved these – maybe too much as I’d hoped to have some left over for lunch this week! It was interesting that several people commented on how they usually felt overly stuffed after chowing down on stuffed grape leaves/dolmas, but not on these.
Thank you again for the great recipe!
Right on! So glad they were hit! Sorry about losing your leftovers
I have a grape vine. How do you make these with fresh grape leaves? Are there some leaves to pick better than others?
I don’t have first-hand experience with fresh leaves as an adult, but Maureen Abood has a lovely post about it on her site:
http://www.maureenabood.com/2012/05/22/ingredient-grape-leaves/
Good luck!
Yummmm, so going to make these…Dolmathes are my fav!
[...] for dipping. If you want to invest a little more prep time, you can also round out the plate with gluten-free, paleo dolmas; Lebanese Onion & Parsley Salad, or Baba [...]
Ah, true grape leaves pro! Line the bottom of the pan with the rejects. XD My Egyptian mother-in-law also uses sliced onion. That way, if there’s ever the chance of them burning (and usually there is….for me anyways), then the grape leaves (called mahshy in Egypt) are spared.
I’ve made lots of grape leaves through the years, and what I’ve come to love are the ones with more spices. The more, the merrier. Allspice is a must in ALL of my versions, as is garlic. Fresh dill adds a refreshing oomph. Kind of like mint, but with a totally different twist.
One more note, you can use the same recipe for filling other veggies too, like cabbage leaves and hollowed out zucchini (my FAVORITE stuffed anything!).
Just planning out my new paleo trial – after I clear out the fridge, freezer, and pantry of all the no-no’s, and the month’s worth of meats and chicken I just bought from the butcher. :/
I love the idea of lining the bottom with onion — and in all my years cooking these with my dad, etc., I’ve never heard that idea. THANK YOU!
I’ve been thinking about adding more spices to my recipe, just for fun. And I agree — stuffing stuff with lamb is AWESOME!
Best wishes for a great paleo experience!
Made these yesterday exactly according to the recipe except I didn’t add raisins or pine nuts as I’m on a strict cutting phase now. These are delicious! The cauliflower makes the perfect rice substitute and the flavours work so well. I’m making another batch today so I can’t take them to work with me . I’m going to add a fresh chili so extra oomph. I just recently switched from a egg whites/ oats/ sweet potato and dry chicken breast type diet to a paleo and I’m loving the switch your website and book have helped me transition nicely ! Thankyou so much!
I’m so glad you like them! I made a batch last week and ate them cold, drizzled with olive oil and extra lemon juice. YUM!
Congrats on getting out of bland food jail! I’m so glad you’re finding my recipes helpful. Happy eating!
An update: per your comment, I made a quick dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, and salt which definitely helped make everything pop. I love eating them cold over a bed of crunchy romaine lettuce. Looking forward to making these again!
[...] To conclude coverage of our Greek feast I share with you dolmas. Dolma generally means ‘stuffed thing’, and depending on where you are, the stuffed thing is some sort of vegetable – potatoes, squash, peppers, or tomatoes. After room is made in said vegetable they are filled with stuffing made of grains, vegetables and seafood or meat, which is then cooked. In this case we are leaning towards a Greek variation that involves stuffing grape leaves. The grape leaf version of dolmas can be eaten with fork and knife, or picked up as finger food. Personally, my method depends on how long it has been since I last had dolmas. I am more likely to use utensils if my last encounter with dolmas occurred recently; otherwise, fingers it is. To make them healthier and lower the carb count we used cauliflower instead of rice. I always like having dolmas as part of a Greek meal – they are great hot or cold, can be made in advance (ideally at least the day before), and a plate of them can be easily shared if eaters are willing and generous. I hardly noticed the absence of rice in this version, since the cauliflower gave them a very similar texture to grain or rice. The lemon and egg coating gives them a nice tang, but it does not hurt to serve them up with a dollop of tzatziki as well. If you know me at all you would not be surprised that my dollops are more like glops, but to each her own. Big D helped with the logistics of making the dolmas, especially with separating the grape leaves, which he referred to as “a real pain in the a**”, and with filling them. I was not ignorant to the fact he got such an annoying, leafy task – the poor, innocent guy. Only through this post will he realize my true evil intentions when I sweetly said “can you help for a sec?” We are excited about using the steaming water as a base for soup. Maybe he will forgive me. Yay and Yum! I got some good suggestions for making the dolmas with cauliflower here. [...]
I grew up with vegetarian grape leaves as one of my favorite dishes my mom made. Thank you for giving these back to me. They’re better than I’ve ever had.
HOORAY! Glad you like them!