Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab)

Name: Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab)
Prep time: 80 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients: 60 jarred grape leaves, rinsed, stems trimmed; 1 lb ground beef (80/20); 2/3 cup short-grain white rice, rinsed; 2 lbs bone-in lamb shoulder chops; 2 medium ripe tomatoes, sliced; 1 small yellow onion, finely diced; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tsp ground allspice; 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 2 tsp kosher salt; 1/4 cup olive oil; 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1 tsp dried mint

Lebanese-style grape leaves stuffed with seasoned ground beef and rice, stacked over lamb chops and simmered in a tangy tomato-lemon broth until the rolls are silky and tender.

140 minHardServes 6380 cal/serving

Middle EasternDinnerStovetopStandardDairy-FreePork-FreeAlcohol-FreeCorn-Free

Cook this free in the appFree. No download, no account. The screen stays awake and each step can run its own timer.

Ingredients

60 jarred grape leaves, rinsed, stems trimmed
1 lb ground beef (80/20)
2/3 cup short-grain white rice, rinsed
2 lbs bone-in lamb shoulder chops
2 medium ripe tomatoes, sliced
1 small yellow onion, finely diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp dried mint

Instructions

1

Make the filling: combine 1 lb ground beef (80/20), 2/3 cup rinsed short-grain white rice, 1 small finely diced yellow onion, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground allspice, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp black pepper, half the 2 tsp kosher salt, and 1/4 cup olive oil. Mix well with your hands.
2

Lay a rinsed, stems trimmed jarred grape leaves flat, vein-side up, on a cutting board. Place a heaping teaspoon of filling near the stem end. Fold the sides over the filling, then roll from the stem end toward the tip into a tight cylinder (about the size of a finger). Repeat with remaining leaves and filling.
3

Line the bottom of a heavy-bottomed pot with the 2 lbs bone-in lamb shoulder chops and season with the remaining salt. Lay the sliced 2 medium sliced ripe tomatoes over the chops.
4

Arrange the stuffed grape leaves seam-side down in tight layers over the tomatoes. Whisk together 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp tomato paste, and 1 tsp dried mint with 2 cups of water. Pour over the rolls until the liquid almost reaches the top layer.
5

Place a heavy plate directly on top of the rolls to keep them from unraveling. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to low, cover the pot, and simmer until the rice is fully cooked and the rolls are tender, about 55-60 minutes.
6

Check that the lamb chops have reached an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). Remove the plate and pot lid. Invert a large platter over the pot and flip to unmold the stuffed grape leaves. Arrange the lamb chops and tomatoes around the rolls and serve.

Cook this free in the appCooking it now? The app keeps the screen awake and times each step. Free, nothing to install.

Keep this recipe

Prints the ingredients and method only.

The Middle Eastern Kitchen 30 recipes from this kitchen in one printable PDF. $5, no account.

Questions

What is Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab)?

Lebanese-style grape leaves stuffed with seasoned ground beef and rice, stacked over lamb chops and simmered in a tangy tomato-lemon broth until the rolls are silky and tender. This reference files it under Middle Eastern dinner: made on the stovetop, rated hard and about 140 minutes start to finish.

How much time should I plan for Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab)?

As written, 140 minutes: 80 of prep and 60 of cooking. The longest single stretch is step 5 (1 hour): "Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to low, cover the pot, and simmer until the rice is fully cooked and the rolls are tender, about 55-60 minutes."

What internal temperature should Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab) reach?

For Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab), the target internal temperature is 145 F (about 65 C), given in step 6. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

What can I use instead of allspice in Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab)?

The entry for Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab) calls for 1 tsp ground allspice. In its place: Equal parts ground cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef in Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab)?

Yes. Choose turkey that is not extra-lean and add a tablespoon of oil to the pan, because turkey has less fat and browns more slowly. Season it a little harder than you would beef. As written, the entry for Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab) uses 1 lb ground beef (80/20).

How many calories are in Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab)?

One serving (the recipe makes 6) is about 380 calories, with 22 g protein, 24 g carbohydrate and 18 g fat, plus 2 g fiber and 480 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list.

Can I make Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab) ahead?

Yes, it takes well to being made ahead. Refrigerate what is left of Stuffed Grape Leaves (Warak Enab) within two hours and eat it within three days. Reheat gently on the stovetop. The grain firms up as it chills; add a spoonful of water before reheating.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,544 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.