Delicious dolma - Turkish stuffed vegetables

[CraftyZedral]

I am currently living in Istanbul and really enjoying myself. The food is amazing!  A favorite of mine is dolma, which is the word for any stuffed vegetables.  They are usually served cold with olive oil, as an appetizer (mezzeler, I believe is the word).  I made dolma today with green peppers and they are so tasty.

For four peppers I used:

about 2 1/2 cups cooked rice
1/2 small onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cinnamon

The recipe uses currants as well, a couple of tablespoons, but I didn't have any.  I don't know the word for currants, so I couldn't ask for them in the store!

Cut the tops off the peppers and scoop out the seeds and remove the ribs.   Saute the garlic and onion until soft.  Add everything to the rice and season with salt and pepper to taste.  I also used a couple dashes of cayenne.   Stuff the peppers as full as you can and place in a baking dish.  Add a bit of water so the peppers don't scorch or stick.  I baked mine for about half an hour at 150 C (I would convert that to Fahrenheit if I could remember the formula!) and drizzled them with olive oil.  They are cooling in the fridge now, but I had to taste the smallest one.  You know, for quality control...

Yogurt sauce:
I mixed a couple of pinches of dried mint, some salt, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice into some yogurt to go with the peppers.  Delicious!

[bezoona]

mmmm one of my favorite dishes ever. we generally serve it warm though, which is how I prefer it. Actually, usually we put sliced potatoes on the bottom of the pot so if anything sticks, it won't be the dolma. And that's usually the most delicious part. Yum!

[CraftyZedral]

I will have to try it with the potato in the bottom.  Mine didn't stick, fortunately.  I liked the warmer ones better than the cold ones too, but I'll take 'em either way! 

[Foisty]

mnnn one of my favorites

[purple_girl]

yummm, these sound and look delicious
will have to see if i have these ingredients!

[stellunasoleil]

Those look all kinds of yummy!!!

[mirrorandmoon]

mmm, that looks great!