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Method & Directions of Grape Leaves Casserole
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- Wash and Soak the Rice
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The first step is to wash your rice and soak it in hot water. Do this at the very beginning because you want your rice to soak for as long as possible.
- Prepare the Frist Part of Your Casserole
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Place a large cooking pot over medium-high heat and add olive oil with the chopped onions and garlic paste. Sauté for a few minutes then add in the tomato paste, the chopped grape leaves with the pomegranate molasses, tomatoes, salt, and pepper.
Sauté again for a couple of minutes then add in the hot water with the chicken stock cubes. Cover your pot, turn down your heat, and let everything simmer for 15 minutes.
- Cook the Rice
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After simmering for 15 minutes, add the rice, parsley, mint, and lemon juice to the pot. Stir everything well and cook the rice. This may take 10 to 15 minutes.
Be sure to stir the rice every few minutes to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Make Your Topping
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While this is optional, you can enjoy the casserole without it. Many people like to make a yogurt-based sauce to go with the Grape Leaves Casserole. All you need is to whisk yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, and crushed garlic, and add salt to taste. This sauce should be thick.
- Assemble the Casserole
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Once your rice is cooked and ready – pour it into a casserole dish and even it out. Pour the yogurt and tahini sauce on it, and garnish with pomegranate seeds, toasted pine nuts, and fried pita bread.
This casserole can be enjoyed hot, warm, or at room temperature.