BYZANTINE DOLMATHES (STUFFED GRAPELEAVES)

      Title: BYZANTINE DOLMATHES (STUFFED GRAPELEAVES)
  Categories: Greek, Appetizers
       Yield: 60 Servings
  
            Karen Mintzias
       1    Jar grapeleaves (or fresh)
 
 MMMMM--------------------------FILLING-------------------------------
       2 tb Oil
       1 lb Ground beef or lamb
       2    Onions; chopped
       1    Garlic clove; pressed
       2 c  Water
     1/2 c  Tomato sauce
       1 c  Rice
       2 tb Chopped mint
       2 tb Chopped parsley
     1/2 ts Salt
            Pepper to taste
     1/8 ts Cinnamon
     1/2 c  Currants
     1/4 c  Port wine (optional)
     1/4 c  Pine nuts or walnuts
       2 c  Water
       1    Lemon (juice only)
 
 MMMMM---------------------------SAUCE--------------------------------
       3    Eggs
       2    Lemons (stained juice only)
       1 c  Hot broth
  
   If using canned grape leaves, rinse off brine by floating leaves in a
   basin of cold water.  Prepare fresh vine leaves by pouring a cup of
   boiling water over them in a bowl.  Drain.  Spread 5 or 6 leaves out
   at a time on a flat surface.  Lay leaf stem side up. Snip off stem
   with kitchen shears.
   
   MAKE FILLING:  Heat oil in large frying pan.  Fry meat, onions and
   garlic on medium heat for 5 minutes, mixing it as it cooks. Add water
   and remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Cover. Reduce heat to
   simmer and cook 10 minutes, until water is absorbed. Set aside until
   cool enough to handle.  Put 1 teaspoon of filling near stem. Bring
   left side of leaf towards center, then bring right side towards
   center. They will not always meet.  Pick up stem end of leaf, tucking
   in the filling. Roll away from you.  It will be an oblong roll like a
   sausage.
   
   Line the bottom of a large skillet with 4 leaves. Place each roll so
   that the tucked under end is on the bottom. Arrange each roll snugly,
   one next to the other, until all the leaves (except 3), and filling
   are gone. Place these leaves flat on top of rolls. Place a flat dish
   on top of rolls also to prevent their unravelling during cooking.
   
   Add water and lemon juice.  Bring to a boil.  Cover. Reduce heat to
   simmer and cook 45 minutes.  When done, remove pot from fire. Make
   Egg and Lemon Sauce and add to broth immediately or serve without
   sauce either cold as an appetizer or as a hot entree.
   
   EGG AND LEMON SAUCE: Beat eggs until thick and light yellow, at least
   5 minutes, with an electric beater or 10 to 15 minutes by hand. Add
   juice slowly, beating all the while. Mix 1 cup hot broth into beaten
   eggs, stirring it in quickly with spoon (or wire whisk) so heat will
   not curdle the eggs.  Cook over very low heat until thickened.
   
   From: "The Complete Greek Cookbook" by Theresa Karas Yianilos. Avenel
   Books, New York.
   
   Typed for you by Karen Mintzias
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