Malfouf Mahshi
Malfouf is stuffed cabbage leaves. Many cuisines have similar dishes, usually with the same basic ingredients: cabbage leaves, starch, meat. Although this dish does contain meat it is often classed as a vegetable dish.
1 medium sized cabbage
250gm ground meat (lamb or beef)
1 cup rice
1 chopped tomato (optional)
1 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. cinnamon (optional)
8 garlic cloves
1 tsp. dried mint
Peel off the cabbage leaves and blanch in boiling water for few minutes. Remove and put in cold water then put in a colander to drain. Repeat same procedure with remaining leaves.
Mix rice with minced meat, spices and salt. Place cabbage leaf, shiny side down, on a work surface. Leave whole or cut into 2 depending on size of the leaf.
Place some of the stuffing on each leaf, and fold ends. Roll firmly and repeat procedure with remaining leaves.
Put 2/3 tbsp of butter in a pot. Pack leaf rolls close together in layers. Invert a heavy plate on top to keep rolls in shape during cooking.
Add to pot lemon juice, 3 cups of water, garlic, dry mint, and a dash of salt. Bring to a boil, cover pot and simmer for 2 hours or until tender (add water if evaporated).
You can serve with radishes, chopped cucumber and tomatoes.
[ Posted on May 5, 2009 at 1:21PM ]