Yaprakis de Oja (Stuffed Grape Leaves)

Recipe from The Sephardic Cooks (Congregation OR VeShalom Sisterhood)

Ingredients:

Have 1 jar of grape leaves rinsed and drained.

Filling:

1 lb. ground beef

1/4 cup rice, rinsed and drained

1 tsp. salt

pepper to taste

1 Tbsp. oil

juice of 1/2 lemon

1/4 c. chopped celery leaves or parsley

2 Tbsp. of tomato sauce

*can add onions and garlic

Sauce:

1/4 cup tomato sauce

2 cup water

juice of 1 lemon

2 Tbsp. oil

1 cup dried Northern beans*

Directions:

Boil beans in water to cover for about 30 minutes. Meanwile, rinse 1 small jar of grape leaves and remove the stems. 

Mix together all the filling ingredients. One each grape leaf, vein side up, place a teaspoon of filling and roll up in cigar shape, tucking both sides.

Rinse and drain beans.

In saucepan, place beans and rolls in layers, beginning and ending with beans. Make sure the rolls are placed close together. Pour sauce over all. A few grape leaves may be added to cover. 

Cover this with a small eathenware dish, inverted. Cover with lid and cook slowly for an hour.

*Two cans of great Northern beans may be substituted.