Name: Baked Dolmades with Lemon-Yogurt Sauce and Feta
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 24 pieces
Cuisine: European cuisine
Ingredients: 24 pcs grape leaves (jarred, rinsed and drained); 1 cup rice (short or medium-grain, uncooked); 0.5 cup onion (finely chopped); 0.25 cup fresh dill (chopped); 0.25 cup fresh parsley (chopped); 1 tsp lemon zest; 3 tbsp olive oil; 0.5 cup water; 0.5 tsp salt; 0.25 tsp black pepper; 1 cup plain yogurt (full-fat recommended); 3 tbsp lemon juice; 4 oz feta cheese (crumbled); 1 tsp garlic (minced (optional)); 1 tbsp olive oil

Plump, golden-brown grape leaves are baked to perfection, nestled in a white ceramic dish and glistening with olive oil, ready to be spooned with creamy lemon-yogurt sauce and sprinkled with crumbled feta.

Prep: 30 min • Cook: 40 min. A vibrant twist on a classic, these tender grape leaves are stuffed with a fragrant mixture of rice and herbs, then baked to perfection. They are lovingly bathed in a zesty lemon-yogurt sauce and crowned with crumbled baked feta, offering a delightful creamy and tangy finish.

Preparation time: 30 min
Cooking time: 40 min
Total time: 1 hr 10 min
Servings: 24

Instructions

Prepare the Filling

1In a medium bowl, combine the uncooked rice, chopped onion, dill, parsley, lemon zest, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 0.5 cup of water, salt, and pepper. Mix well.

Assemble the Dolmades

1Gently separate the grape leaves. Trim any tough stems.
2Place about 1 tablespoon of the rice mixture near the stem end of each grape leaf. Fold the sides of the leaf inward and then roll tightly from the stem end towards the tip to form a compact roll.
3Arrange the rolled dolmades snugly in a single layer in a baking dish.

Bake the Dolmades

1Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2Bake the dolmades for 30 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the leaves are tender.

Prepare the Sauce and Feta

1While the dolmades are baking, in a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, lemon juice, and optional minced garlic until smooth.
2In a separate small oven-safe dish, place the crumbled feta cheese. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Bake the feta in the oven alongside the dolmades for the last 10-15 minutes, until it's softened and lightly golden.

Serve

1Remove the dolmades from the oven. Pour the lemon-yogurt sauce over the warm dolmades.
2Top with the baked feta cheese.
3Serve warm.