Stuffed Cabbage and Grape Leaves with Minced Meat (Palestine)

Ferial is originally from Jerusalem but moved to the US in 1972, after getting married at age 22. She was the youngest of 7 sisters and 4 bothers and her mom and sisters taught her how to cook, though she’s improved on those teaching by adding her own touch over the years.

In Jerusalem, everybody during Ramadan would get together to cook and eat nice meals. Everyone in the family would help make the meals and then everyone would go pray together. 

Iftar were a big affair back home. Ferial maintains the tradition here in the US, especially the first night of Ramadan when she hosts the whole family, but it is tougher here with everyone being spread out.

Ramadan is for her, the best month of the year. She started fasting when she was 6 years old and feels this special month is all about love. “It makes people more focused, calmed down, empathetic and generous to those with less. It’s about love. you feel it more than any other month. It’s about praying and reading the Quran more. Forgiveness is also very important and Ramadan is an opportunity to forgive or ask forgiveness. It encourages one to be more in tuned with themselves spiritually. In this (US) culture we consume so much but when you cut all of this out and are in unison with more than a billion people doing it as well, it’s a way to remind oneself of the core of your spirituality”.

When they moved to the US, she and her husband opened a small mom and pop shop in Bay Ridge. From there it grew to become a large speciality store in Bay Ridge and very year they host a street Iftar which is open to everyone in the neighborhood. It’s a great way to share the culture and the tradition of Ramadan.

“Food is the #1 in bringing people together”. When her husband was alive, they would always cook together. “When you are alll together around a meal you feel the love”. Ferial has 9 children and 20 grandchildren.

Below is her recipe for stuffed cabbage and grape leaves. It takes a long time to make so she reserves it for Ramadan or special occasions- but it’s worth it!

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Ferial's home recipe of stuffed cabbage and grape leaves with ground meat (Palestine)

Prep Time: 1 hour   Cook Time: 2 hours  Total: 3 hours

Ingredients (Serves: 4)

1. 1 whole cabbage and/or grape leaves (from jars)
2. 1 cups of medium grain rice
3. 1lbs minced meat (beef or lamb)
4. mixed spices
5. salt
6. 10 garlic cloves
7. 2 tblsp corn oil
8. 1 lemon (juiced)

Instructions

1. Make 4 incisions though the cabbage in order to let the water go through
2. Place the cabbage in a large pot of boiling water in order to blanch the leaves for 1-2mn
3. Cut out the core or the cabbage and separate each leaf
4. Boil the rice for 1/2 hour then rince.
5. In a large bowl, mix the rice, meat, spices, lemon juice and oil.
6. **Add cumin to half- this will go in the cabbage rolls - the cumin prevents gas!
7. Stuff each leaf - cabbage and/or grape - with the mixed rice an roll it.
8. Prepare a large pot of water on the stove on high and once the water is hot, add the stuffed leaves, salt and the garlic cloves.
9. Once the water starts boiling, keep it on high for 5-10mn, then keep it simmering on low for 2 hours.

Notes

1. The lamb version is delicious served with plain yoghurt.
2. Traditionally it is served on a large dish from which everyone eats out of.