Stuffed Grape Leaves

Stuffed Grape Leaves is an old traditional cuisine tried in springtime when grape leaves are fresh and sour. Almost all Iranians like to try it not only in early spring but throughout the year. There are several ways to preserve the leaves. They might not be as rich but they are still tasty. Here is a recipe. Hope you will like it and put it among your weekly meals.
Ingredients
1/2 of one pitcher water
Aromatic herbs such as mint, oregano, tarragon, basil, leek, dill and parsley, finely chopped
Green caraway, tip of a teaspoon
1 medium onion
250 g split peas, soaked in water.
250 g mung beans
Rice, the amount depends on the number of eaters, 1 cup for each person
500 g Ground meat
Sultana raisins , 3 tablespoons
2 tablespoons grape syrup
Nutmeg, tip of a teaspoon
1 laurel leave
1/2 cup vinegar
Coriander powder, 1 tablespoon
Salt and black pepper, for seasoning
Procedure
First wash the grape leaves carefully. Set a pot filled with water on the heat and bring to a boil. Put the leaves inside the boiling water till soft. Then drain water and keep aside.
Put split peas and mung beans in a pan with no Oil and heat till their raw smell is removed. Chop the onion finely and sauté in oil in a pot. Add in the minced meat along with all the spices. Sauté a bit. Add in the mung beans, split peas and fragrant chopped herbs and pour in water till cooked.
In a separate pot, put the rice in boiling water and strain. Once the above ingredients were done, especially mung beans and split peas, add them to the rice. No need to cook the rice thoroughly.
Mix rice and the cooked ingredients, minced meat, chopped onion, herbs, split peas and mung beans. Take one leave or two and put the filling in the center and wrap firmly the way you like, it could be a rectangle, triangle, or a pentagon which is really charming if wrapped finely. Repeat this with all the leaves and the filling mixture. Arrange them in a pot carefully, side by side and add in a cup of water. Close the lid. After a half hour, once steam is coming out, pour in the combination of vinegar and grapes syrup to make it tasty. Once ready, serve with fresh Persian bread. Bon Appetit!