Stuffed Vine Leaves
Enjoy stuffed vine leaves filled with minced meat, rice and spices. Koupepia is served as part of a meze at many Cypriot wedding feasts.
Details
| Country | Cyprus |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | 2-3 tbsp olive oil 2 onions, finely chopped 1 kg coarsely minced pork 400 g can of chopped tomatoes ½ bunch parsley, finely chopped a handful of dried Cypriot mint, crumbled 1 tsp ground cinnamon 200 g pudding rice salt and pepper to taste 1 bunch of fresh vine leaves, destalked (or use canned leaves in brine, drained) juice of 1 lemon |
| Method | Heat the olive oil in a pan, add the onions and cook gently to soften but not brown. Crumble in the pork, cook gently for 5 minutes or until the pork has coloured. Stir in the tomatoes, parsley, mint, cinnamon and rice. Season well and cook for a few minutes more. Have ready a stack of the vine leaves, vein side up, the pork mixture and a shallow circular ovenproof dish ready to put the dolmades in. Continue making until all the koupepia are packed in the dish. Squeeze on the lemon juice and cover with any remaining vine leaves, like a blanket. Place an inverted plate on top of the vine leaves. Carefully pour boiling water in around the edge of the dish to come up to just touch the plate. Cover with foil, cook in a preheated oven 200°C /Gas 6 for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 180°C/Gas 4 and cook for a further 30 minutes. Serve warm or cold.
Source: Cyprus Tourism Organisation |
Links of interest
| Cyprus Food and Drink |