Stock for dolma for the whole winter or how to freeze grape leaves:

Dolma is a delicious southern dish, similar to cabbage rolls. One of the main features is that the filling is wrapped not in cabbage leaves, but in grape leaves. This delicacy is not sold in every store. However, if at least a couple of grape vines grow on the site, you can enjoy dolma all year round. It is enough to freeze the leaves for dolma. To prevent them from breaking in the freezer and losing their taste after thawing, you need to choose the right raw materials, roll the rolls, and then defrost them gradually.

Key Actions

There are several actions that will help preserve the taste, beneficial vitamins and, most importantly, the integrity of the leaves in the freezer and during thawing. These are the steps:

• selection of leaves;
• washing, trimming;
• drying;
• folding

Leaf collection should be scheduled for late spring or early summer. Juicy grape branches are formed precisely during this period of time. You should collect medium-sized leaves, which are located 5-7 leaves from the beginning of the branch. They should not have yellow marks, white coating, or traces of insects.

Important
You cannot collect plants from wild (ornamental) grapes or from plants near the highway. The first type is dangerous due to its harmful substances, like overripe grape leaves, and the second type accumulates all machine waste, which also negatively affects health.

Washing and trimming

Selected leaves must be washed and removed from dust, residual fertilizers or pesticides.It is absolutely forbidden to send the plates under the tap - they can easily be bent or broken.

How to wash grape leaves:

1. Fill a bowl, sink, or large salad bowl with water.
2. Sink the leaves without crushing them. They must swim without interfering with each other.
3. Leave for 15-20 minutes. This will not only wash off the dirt, but also draw out possible remnants of nitrates or other unwanted salts.

Now the leaves are not so fragile, they are plastic. Calmly take them out and place them on gauze or a towel somewhere in the shade. After a couple of minutes, start trimming.

The cuttings are not edible, so cut them off and throw them away. If the pieces are the same size, stack them. This will be faster, but there is a chance of damaging the leaves. The magazine purity-en.htgetrid.com recommends keeping 2 leaves, maximum 3.

Drying

Lay down a paper, cotton or linen towel, lay out the sheets and wait 20-40 minutes (depending on their size). This is done so that the freezing goes faster and the plates do not collapse in the process.

Rolling and freezing

Rolls for dolma consist of 10-20 grape leaves. You need to work with them extremely carefully, otherwise the plates will crack.

Tools: cling film or thick bags, containers suitable for freezing.

Operating procedure:

1. Place the leaves in bags and refrigerate for 3-4 hours. Cooling will restore plasticity to the leaves.
2. Roll the rolls and cover with cling film.
3. Place the finished rolls back into the refrigerator.
4. When all the leaves are gone, transfer the cooled rolls to a tray and into the freezer. Place them in one layer to avoid wrinkles.
5. After 4 hours, place the frozen rolls in a container, and transfer a new portion from the refrigerator to the trays. And so - with all the preparations.This will prevent the rolls from getting wrinkled or sticking together.

Important
Carry out the first freezing in the lower section of the freezer or at a temperature below –20 degrees. Such extreme cold is not needed for storage; standard -18 is sufficient.

Expiration date and defrosting

The shelf life of the products is no more than 6 months. The leaves can be used in a variety of recipes. It is enough to defrost them correctly.

They do this in three ways:

1. Remove the required number of rolls from the freezer and place in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours.
2. Leave at room temperature - it will take no more than 2 hours to completely thaw.
3. Place the ice rolls in a container and let them sit in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Then immerse the container in hot water for a few minutes or pour boiling water over the container. This way the leaves will defrost much faster and will not lose beneficial vitamins.

Bonus: delicious dolma recipe

To prepare ten servings (if you have 10 leaves for each roll) you will need:

• 700 grams of minced meat (preferably pork, as it does not have a special smell);
• 1.5 cups water for minced meat (purified);
• 1 onion;
• 100 grams of sour cream (15 or 20%);
• 2 cups broth (vegetable or meat);
• salt, spices.

Preparation:

1. The first step is to defrost the leaves - do this using one of the methods described above.
2. While the rolls are thawing, make the filling. Take minced meat or mince it yourself, add salt and spices to taste.
3. Add water and mix until smooth.
4. Free the thawed rolls from the cling film and place the minced meat in the center so that it fills the tube 2/3 full.
5. Place several grape leaves on the bottom of a thick-walled pan, and several rows of dolma on top.
6. Pour in the broth and secure the rolls so that they do not move: press down with an overturned plate.
7. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 40-60 minutes.
8. At the end of cooking, add sour cream.
9. Serve in portions with sauces to taste.

Grape leaves tolerate defrosting well and do not lose either color or benefit. However, you should be very careful so that the fragile plates do not crack. Otherwise, homemade dolma all year round, wrapped in fragrant grape leaves, is easy. Cook and eat with pleasure!