Very popular in several Mediterranean countries as well as a family favorite, these Lebanese stuffed grape leaves are filled with meat, rice and lemon juice.
If I could design the perfect neighborhood restaurant, it would feature the menu above written by my Aunt Paula. After receiving a late-Summer batch of kousa from her younger sister (my mom), Aunt Paula decided to make an entire feast of our favorite Syrian dishes.
It started with stuffed kousa, then she decided to make grape leaves. And while she’s at it, how about some cabbage leaves?
Baked kibbee might be nice as well. What about stuffed eggplant while we’re at it? Of course, you can’t have dinner without Syrian rice and salad. Who will bring dessert? Last weekend family and friends poured into Aunt Paula and Uncle Randy’s home for an evening full of food laughs and full stomachs.
Long story short – it was one of the most delicious evenings of my life. Aunt Paula is my Syrian cooking muse and I will always remember these amazing culinary adventures that explore our heritage. In the coming weeks, I plan to feature several of Aunt Paula’s recipes. Of course, these are all my interpretations of her recipes because real cooks do not measure or weigh or write down recipes. We use a pinch of that, a pinch of this.
What are the steps to making good grape leaves?
- Sourcing good grape leaves. You can technically use the ones that grow in the wild but we prefer jarred ones. There are a few brands out there that bottle them. One brand is Orlando and the other is Ziyad. These are usually my go-to brands.
- Trimming the stems. Nobody wants to eat the stem when eating grape leaves. My husband considers this the more not-so-fun task but it’s a necessary one.
- Not overstuffing them. When the rice cooks it will expand. If you overstuff the leaves you run the risk of the grape leaves breaking.
How do you trim the stems on grape leaves?
All this involves is getting a pair of kitchen scissors and cutting back on the long stem at the end of the grape leaves. He usually does it in batches. Note that you don’t want to cut off the entire stem– just most of it. See below.
Once all of the leaves are trimmed we can start filling them with meat. I’ll take a small amount of of the mixture and apply it to the center
As you’re rolling grape leaves you’ll want to add them to a pot. I will usually Crisscross them on each row.
Oddly enough, when I prepare these dishes they never taste as good as Aunt Paula’s and I’m rarely that hungry by the time dinner is ready. I’m hoping that means it came out perfectly.
Frequently asked questions:
Warak Eneb
Ground sirloin or lamb are the best meats to use in grape leaves.
Up to 3-4 days
Once you’ve cooked them they can be served either way. They taste amazing either way!
They can usually be located in a Mediterranean grocery store or select big-box grocery stores in their ethnic section. Orlando grape leaves are usually our favorite.
They can be frozen up to a few months. They will still taste great!
Yes! There is a multitude of variations. You could simply exclude the meat and add in other ingredients such as ground garbanzo beans to provide you the additional protein.
What pairs well with grape leaves?
- Greek Tzatziki Sauce with Garlic and Dill
- Greek Brown Rice Salad
- Grilled Chicken Souvlaki
- Greek Lamb Chops with Tzatziki Sauce
📖 Recipe
Lebanese Meat Stuffed Grape Leaves
Ingredients
- 1 jar grape leaves 2 pound jar
- 1 pound ground sirloin or lamb
- ½ cup long grain enriched white rice par-boiled such as Uncle Ben’s
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 lemons juiced
- 2 stalks celery cut into 3 – optional
- 5 leaves raw cabbage optional
Instructions
- Line a large pot with celery ribs and loose cabbage leaves.
- Remove the hard stems from grape leaves and place on a plate.
- In a large bowl, combine ground meat, rice, the juice of 1 lemon, salt and pepper.
- One grape leaf at a time, place the leaf flat on a plate and add 1 tablespoon of meat and rice mixture near stem.
- Form meat into long cigar shape then roll the grape leave starting at the stem all the way to the top. No need to fold in sides but you can if you wish.
- Line rolls in pot, alternating direction with each layer until the pot is filled ¾ of the way or you’ve used all your leaves.
- Cover grapes leaves with a small plate turned upside down to keep them from moving and to weigh it down.
- Add the juice of the second lemon and then cover with water until grape leaves are covered.
- Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil on high. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes before serving with plain yogurt or cucumber laban if you wish.
Video
Chef’s Notes
Nutrition
Check out more Lebanese recipes on my Pinterest board!
Theresa
How long do jarred grape leaves last after the jar has been purchased? I have a jar that does not have a date on it and I know I have had it for a few years. They still look good but I don’t know what they will taste like.
Liz DellaCroce
They last about 2 years I would say!
Linda
Your recipe says to line the bottom of the pan with cabbage and celery but your video shows that you put it on the top. Does it make any difference how you do it?
Liz DellaCroce
It doesn’t. :) Enjoy!
Bernadette Carwford
I am from Lebanon and you left out one main ingredient allspice this is what makes grape leaves is your allspice allspice
Liz DellaCroce
Oh interesting! We are from Syria and we don’t add that but that sounds incredible!
Heather
You have to eat these with lots of yoghurt, my grandfather used to make his own yoghurt and that’s 70 years ago you couldn’t buy yoghurt in the shops in our country town . And he was from Syria and yes he added the spice as well.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh yes lots of yogurt!!! My aunt makes her own too – I bet its delicious homemade!
patricia hauff
I have been making these my whole adult life, my grandfather came here from Syria. I add onions that have been rendered in butter and fresh mint. The mint was my addtion and now I can’t eat them without it.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh my goodness I LOVE THE idea of adding mint!!!!!!
Mary
I just found your recipes! They all look delicious and so similar to the ones we make and that Grandma always made. I was happy to find your Lebanese spice recipe. I plan on making it in bulk to use!
The ladies in my family (3 generations) get together to cook, laugh and make wonderful memories together.
Thank you for your yummy recipes and prep tips!
Liz DellaCroce
Awww that makes me so happy!!! I love cooking with multiple generations of my family too! Love that you do that. Thanks for writing!
Chris
What type of grape leaf is used, I want to grow myself, please help
Liz DellaCroce
Hi Chris, My grandma use to use regular grape leaves picked off the vine but I always buy store bought. Sorry I can’t be more of a help!
Linda
If you’re wanting to pick your own grape leaves it has to be from a wild grape vine. And picked before July. This is what I’ve been told from all the older Lebanese and Syrian women that I have the pleasure of working with and others ones that are family friends and relatives.
Liz DellaCroce
Great tip!
Bert
How much vinegar/salt ratio is used for grape leaves? I have my own leaves.
It isn’t nasty like greens or slimy like cabbage is it?
Stuffed peppers (chili rellenoes) is good. I’m an oven , uh, I’ll pass. But fried or a breaded baked version is good.
A little vinegar on boiled or bake potatoe and it’s a new dish, yummy. Maybe 1/2 a capful for a big tater to introduce you to it. NOw tell me what I’m supposed to expect of taste and texture of grape leaves, please.
Liz DellaCroce
Grape leaves have a nice crunch to them, not as hard as cabbage but not soft like spinach. They’re not slimy at all. They’re so good I urge you to try! For salt just follow the recipe and no vinegar just lemon juice. Enjoy!
Angie
I’m so happy our local grocery store featured your blog on fb. I can’t stop making hushwee, it’s so good! Do you have a recipe for batata harrah? I’ve searched for years but can’t find a really good one like the one my favorite restaurant makes.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so happy to hear that!!! I’m not familiar with Batata Harrah? What is it?
Angie
Spicy potatoes. I didn’t realize I commented on the wrong recipe, sorry. I’m making your grape leaves right now. I can’t wait!
Liz DellaCroce
Yay!! Enjoy!
Barb Matern
I am looking for the recipe, for Baklava, My Mom made it every year for Christmas, I watched her make it, but never wrote it down, now that She has passed away, I wish I could get a recipe. She never had recipe s everything was made. By heart, so no one really knows how to make it, it is the ground nuts, in filo dough
Anything you know about it, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your wonderful blog!!!!!
Liz DellaCroce
Hi Barb,
My grandmother (my Ema Ljuba) has the BEST baklava recipe ever. It is actually included in my Jewish cookbook which you can purchase for just $3.99 https://gumroad.com/l/Ngjqj
Sophia
Loved your comments and recipe’s. Lebanese food is such delicious food and healthy too! Thank you for sharing! Merrr Christmas to all ????
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so glad you enjoy it Sophia! I think I’m going to make these grape leaves soon!
Louise
Yummy! I’ll have to try your version.
I do mine with lamb and have the leaves lay on a bed of rhubarb and lemon slices.
Liz DellaCroce
Yes we do lamb too – that sounds amazing with the rhubarb!! Happy Holidays!
christine davis
We make a version of this every year. I remember when I was a little girl, driving in the car with my grandparents and all of a sudden, we would be pulled over on the side of the road. There go my grandparents, picking grape leaves off of a tree in someone’s yard! How embarrassing then…what a sweet memory now.
Liz DellaCroce
Love fresh picked grape leaves!!
Rachael {Simply Fresh Cooking}
Yep.
Sam
Where can you find grape leaves?
The Lemon Bowl
Large grocery stores carry them (such as Meijer) but I get mine at Middle Eastern or International specialty markets. You can also buy online!
Bruce R Haskin Sr
You can always search the web…but better yet pick your own wild grape leaves. Just after my birthday in mid July, is harvest time. You want to get while they are still tender. Check the roadsides where you will see climbing vines. A large garbage bag and a pair of scissors are useful. Snip the stems close to leaf. When you have collected as many as able,return home. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Put the grape leaves to blanch for one minute. Remove leaves with tongs and plunge into cold water. They will stink like cat pee. I pack them in a large jar of brine and vinegar and store in spare refrigerator for as long as two years. I lay out 30-40 leaves and roll them like a cigar and place vertically in jar, making sure brine covers them. To use, remove & unroll and rinse off brine.
Liz DellaCroce
Yes my family does this often!!! Great tips!
Nancy Z.
I pick wild grape leaves, stack 50 (50 for every 1 lb. ground meat) and place in a quart size freezer zipper bag, then freeze. When I’m ready to use them I cut the bag off because the edges may be brittle when frozen, place them in a 9×13 baking pan and pour boiling water over them. They immediately revive to their fresh color and quality and I don’t have that jarred briney taste.
Liz DellaCroce
Ahhh my mother always had fresh grape leaves also!! I’m envious!
Liz Della Croce
Love you both!
Anonymous
your blog is sublime.
Anonymous
Thank you for the sweet words. I'm honored.
Love,
Aunt Paula