Sunday, June 10, 2012

Dolmades or Dolmadakia?

It's been a while since the last time I had Dolmades/Dolmadakia. I actually don't know what exactly to call them, because I've grown up calling them Dolmades but in Greek they're Dolmadakia? I'm not sure. Either way, they're the same thing. Stuffed grape leaves.

Normally I only get to have them when we go out for Greek food or if we end up attending a Greek Festival, but since I've moved, there haven't been many places for me to have that opportunity. My mum doesn't cook them either. It's all Italian here, because she's not my Greek side! I had my fingers crossed that my innate Greek would make this attempt go off flawlessly.

I think it went well!


Grape leaves remind me of the tree stars from The Land Before Time! They look kind of similar, don't they?!


I always grew up having them stuffed with meat and rice and some vegetables, but because I rarely eat meat anymore, I found a couple of recipes online, combined and removed what I didn't want, and made a vegetarian version. This one is onion, rice, pignoli, parsley, and mint. (I burned some of the rice a little by accident!)

I don't have any photos of the process because well my fingers were covered in oil and rice from stuffing the leaves, and I definitely didn't want to get that all over my phone.


The end result of my first foray into Greek cuisine.

To me they taste just like ones that I've had in a restaurant, and they're delicious. Clearly my inner Greek decided to show itself and help out! I won't be making these often though. They take forever! Or maybe that's just because it was my first time. I want to say, all said and done, it took me about four hours-ish. Between rinsing and draining and boiling the grape leaves, to browning the onions and cooking the rice, and removing the stems then wrapping it all and an hour to cook. Definitely time consuming, but it was a lot of fun! Definitely something I would do again in the future when I have more free time.

I wish I could share them! Even though I've already eaten a bunch of them, my tummy is rumbling just writing this post!

16 comments:

  1. that looks so yummy!!!! Mmmm I'll have to order it next time i go out and eat Greek food :) since I can't cook to save my life xD I personally love greek yogurt mixed with mint, it's delicious!

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  2. this looks very healthy ^-^ i might try it out next time :3 Love * Monstros no Armário

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  3. Healthy and delicious! Perfect combination :3 

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  4. Definitely try it!  It's usually an appetiser :3 

    I've never thought of putting mint in yoghurt! I wonder how that would work in non-greek yoghurt. Ah, unfortunately Greek yoghurt is too thick for my liking! 

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  5. Hey Mischa,
    I just finished making the CD and made up the package so that I can send it to you tomorrow! ^__^ Hope it doesn't take so long to the States, be excited! :D

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  6. Yay I'm excited and can't wait for it to get here! I'm still making yours~ 

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  7. The leaves do look like the one from Land Before Time!!! I used to watch that movie weekly when I was a kid!!!!

    http://malice.honey-vanity.net/

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  8. I did, too! I never knew grape leaves looked like this :3

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  9. Yummy ^^ Haha about the shape of the leaves, gives me such a flashback to my childhood. xD

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  10. Hey gorgeous I nominated you for Liebster Blog Award, hope you don't mind :D http://neonwolken.blogspot.jp/2012/06/liebster-award-nomination.html

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  11. this is my favourite greek food :3 they´re soooo delicious!
    http://cookiecatsworld.blogspot.de/

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  12. I love these but it has been so long since I last had some.

    tia-cherie.blogspot.com

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  13. Of course I don't mind :3 Thank you!

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  14. Don't they? It made me want to rewatch my old childhood movies haha

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  15. They are so delicious :3 It was fun making them but much more fun eating them! They're my favourite, too :3

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  16. They're quite easy and fun to make if you have the time :3

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