
Dolma (Stuffed Grape Leaves)
Abuja, Nigeria ·
Aperçu
Dolma, known in Egypt as Warak Enab (grape vine paper), are tender grape leaves stuffed with a fragrant mixture of spiced rice, fresh herbs, and sometimes minced meat, then tightly rolled and arranged in a pot to cook slowly in a bright, lemony broth until the filling is perfectly cooked and the leaves are silky and tender. The preparation of Dolma is a communal activity in Egyptian and Levantine households, with family members gathering around a table to roll hundreds of leaves for celebrations. The tightly rolled parcels, no larger than a finger, are arranged in concentric circles in the pot and weight down with a plate to prevent them unravelling during cooking. The result is a dish of impressive elegance built from simple ingredients.
Note de Patrimoine AFN
Dolma takes its name from the Turkish word dolmak meaning to be stuffed, reflecting the Ottoman culinary influence that spread stuffed vegetable preparations across the Arab world, North Africa, and the Balkans. In Egypt, stuffed grape leaves have been a celebration food for centuries, and the technique of filling leaves with rice and herbs predates Ottoman influence, with similar preparations documented in ancient Arab cookbooks.


