How to make Stuffed Cabbage Dolma and Salad Armenian Persian

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork is often less expensive.

rice

🥗Healthier: quinoa

💰Cheaper: bulgur

Quinoa is a protein-rich alternative, while bulgur is more affordable.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil offers health benefits, while vegetable oil is budget-friendly.

tomato paste

🥗Healthier: fresh tomatoes

💰Cheaper: canned tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes provide nutrients, while canned options are often cheaper.

Cut the cabbage in half and fill a pot with water to cook it for approximately half an hour until it's pliable.

Chop half a bunch of mint, two bunches of cilantro, two bunches of parsley, and three bunches of green onions.

Chop three cloves of garlic and mix with the chopped greens.

In a mixing bowl, combine 2 pounds of ground beef, half a cup of basmati rice, half of a 15-ounce can of tomato sauce, half a cup of vegetable oil, the chopped greens, the juice of one lemon (half for the mixture, half for later), 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of turmeric, 1 teaspoon of curry powder, and half a teaspoon of black pepper. Add half a cup of warm water to make the mixture moist.

Chop one medium bell pepper and add it to the mixture.

Cut the hard part of the cabbage leaves to make them easier to roll.

Place three medium sliced tomatoes at the bottom of a pan.

Roll the cabbage leaves with the meat mixture and stack them in the pan.

In a bowl, mix the remaining tomato sauce, half a cup of vegetable oil, half a teaspoon of salt, half a teaspoon of black pepper, and approximately one to one and a half cups of water. Pour this mixture over the stuffed cabbages.

Squeeze the remaining lemon juice on top of the stuffed cabbages and place a heavy plate on top to keep them in place.

Cover the pot and cook on high for the first 15-20 minutes, then reduce the heat and cook slowly for at least an hour and a half.

Once cooked, serve the dolma with yogurt or fresh salad.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: