This a scrumptuous, classic main dish. It has a fine, sophisticated, feast-like taste. It is a must, for anyone interested in Turkish cuisine.

Grape leaves can be readily found in local or online Turkish or other Mediterranean grocery stores

Grate the tomatoes, set aside.

Finely chop the onions, set aside.

Finely chop the parsley, set aside.

Put all the ingredients, the meat, the rice, the tomatoes, the onions and the spices in a bowl and mix well by hand.

You will be separating the leaves one by one as you fill them. Put the leaves in a bowl filled with water - the water helps separating the leaves and you can place the leaves around the edges of the bowl.

Fill each leaf as shown in the video below.

Arrange the stuffed leaves in a large pot as shown below.

Spread the butter cut into small pieces and the pepper paste over the stuffed leaves as shown below.

Add water.

Bring to a boil and simmer for 45 minutes.

Man separating grape leaves in Kadikoy, Istanbul

Copyright, Mehmet C. Ozturk

Can not be reproduced in any form without permission