Lemon & Olive Quinoa Dolmades

Makes: 20-30

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tbsp pine nuts, roasted
• ¼ bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped
• ¼ bunch fresh mint, finely chopped
• 1 long green chilli, seeded, finely chopped
• ¼ cup kalamata olives, pitted
• ½ tsp ground allspice
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ cup quinoa, uncooked
• 20-30 vine leaves
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 500ml chicken stock, salt reduced

Method

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a medium saucepan. Add onion, garlic and stir for 3 minutes.
   Add pine nuts, quinoa (uncooked), parsley, mint, chilli, olives, allspice and cinnamon and stir
   to combine. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes and remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Spread vine leaves out flat on a clean bench top, smooth-side down, with the stems facing
   you. Place 1 tablespoon of mixture at the base of the leaves. Fold the sides in and roll up to
   enclose the filling. Don’t roll too tightly as the quinoa needs room to expand when cooked.
   Repeat this process with the remaining leaves.
3. Line the base of a large saucepan with extra vine leaves (ideally use the torn ones). Place
   the dolmades in tightly together, so they don’t unravel.
4. Pour stock and lemon juice over the vine leaves so that there is just enough to cover the
   vine leaves. Place a plate on top of the vine leaves in the pan (this helps to prevent the
   leaves from unravelling and helps to keep their shape).
5. Simmer for 30 minutes or until the quinoa is tender. Allow to cool and serve.

Tip 

Enjoy as part of our deliciously simple Veggie Grazing Platter!