Definition

Noun: 1. A dish of well-seasoned rice (often with additions like nuts, currants, or minced lamb) that is wrapped in grape leaves and then simmered or braised in a liquid such as stock or oil. This is a traditional food found in various cuisines of the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East, and surrounding regions.

Usage

• As a dish name: The term "stuffed grape leaves" is used to name and refer to the specific food item.
  • The restaurant's appetizer platter includes hummus, baba ghanoush, and stuffed grape leaves.
  • Making stuffed grape leaves is a time-consuming but rewarding process.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The dish is known by many regional names, such as dolma (Turkish), dolmathakia (Greek), warak enab (Arabic), and yaprak sarma. While "stuffed grape leaves" is a descriptive English term, these native names are frequently used in English contexts when referring to the specific cultural version.
  • We ordered a plate of dolma to share.

Variants and Related Words

• Dolma: A more general term in several cuisines for any stuffed vegetable, which can include stuffed grape leaves, peppers, tomatoes, or zucchini.
• Sarma: A term used in Balkan and Turkish cuisines for dishes where a filling is wrapped in leaves (such as grape, cabbage, or chard).

Synonyms

• Dolmadakia (specifically Greek small, rice-based stuffed grape leaves)
• Warak enab (Arabic term)
• Yaprak sarma (Turkish term)

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Stuffed vegetables: A broader category of dishes that includes "stuffed grape leaves" as one type.
  • The menu featured a variety of stuffed vegetables, including peppers, tomatoes, and grape leaves.

Noun

1. well-seasoned rice (with nuts or currants or minced lamb) simmered or braised in stock