Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Meatball mix

1. 1
   Soak the rice 20 minutes in cold water and drain well.

   ⚙ SoakingBowl
2. 2
   Mix the onion, the parsley, the mint, the allspice, the cinnamon, the rice, part of the lemon juice, the olive oil, the salt and the black pepper until evenly combined.

To assemble

1. 3
   Place a little of the mixture in the center of each leaf, fold in both sides and roll up.
2. 4
   Line the bottom of the wide pot with a few grape leaves.

   Wide, shallow pot
3. 5
   Arrange the rolls tightly in a wide pot, seam side down.

   Wide, shallow pot
4. 6
   Mix the stock and rest of the lemon juice and pour over the rolls.
5. 7
   Set an inverted plate on the rolls so they don't come apart while cooking.

   💡The plate keeps the rolls packed and whole while cooking, so they don't float or open.
6. 8
   Bring to a boil. Turn down the heat, cover and simmer 45–50 minutes, until the rice is tender.

   ⚙ SimmeringStoveLid

   💡A gentle simmer, not a boil: a hard boil dries the food out and clouds it, a slow simmer cooks it evenly.