Feta And Lemon Cabbage Rolls With Coriander Tzatziki - cooking recipe

Ingredients

8 large cabbage leaves
1 cup uncooked basmati rice
1 unwaxed lemon, zested
4 large spring onions, chopped
1/3 cup pine nuts
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons chopped mint
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
100 g feta cheese
salt and pepper
1/2 vegetable stock cubes or 1/2 chicken stock cube
1/2 cucumber, grated
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped coriander
1 cup yoghurt

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 325F or 170 degrees C.
Place the cabbage leaves in a bowl, cover with boiling water and leave for 10 minutes.
Place the rice in a pan with two cups water, bring to the boil, reduce the heat, cover and cook for five minutes.
Remove from the heat and leave covered for five minutes.
Meanwhile, heat one tablespoon of the oil in a frying pan and add the pine nuts, spring onions and lemon zest, cooking briefly until the onion wilts.
Tip the mixture into a bowl.
Add the partially cooked rice, mint and thyme, then crumble the feta over the top.
Season lightly with salt and generously with pepper and mix thoroughly.
Put a cabbage leaf on a work surface with the smooth-side down and the stem end facing you.
Place a scoop of filling in the centre, fold the sides in to cover it, then fold the end nearest to you over the filling, and carry on rolling forwards to make a neat, snug bundle.
Place in a shallow oven-proof dish with the join underneath.
Continue, nudging the wraps up close, until all the leaves and filling are finished.
Dissolve the stock cube in 1 cup hot water and stir in the juice of the lemon and one tablespoon of olive oil.
Pour the stock over the dolmades and cover the dish with foil.
Make slits for the steam to escape and bake for 30 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed.
To make the tzatziki, peel, chop and crush the garlic with a little salt.
Grate the cucumber, and squeeze out as much water as possible.
Mix the garlic, cucumber, coriander and remaining olive oil into the yoghurt and serve with hot, warm or cold dolmades.