Grilled Grape Leaf Wrapped Goat Cheese Recipes

Steps:

• Whisk the olive oil, lemon zest, garlic, za'atar and Aleppo pepper in a shallow bowl or small baking dish. Add the feta and spoon the oil over the top. Set aside to marinate 1 hour.
• While the cheese marinates, place the grape leaves in a bowl of room-temperature water and let soak.
• Line a small baking sheet with paper towels. Drain the grape leaves and lay in a single layer on the towels; pat very dry. On a clean surface, overlap the grape leaves slightly to form a square. Place the block of feta in the center (reserve the flavored oil), then fold the grape leaves to cover the cheese like a present.
• Preheat a grill to medium high and prepare for indirect grilling: On a charcoal grill, bank the coals to one side; on a gas grill, turn off half the burners. Toast the pita over direct heat, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Brush the outside of the wrapped feta with some of the reserved oil and place on the cooler side of the grill (indirect heat). Cook until the grape leaves are crisp and slightly charred, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and move to direct heat; grill until lightly charred on the second side and the cheese is warmed through, about 3 more minutes. Transfer to a board or platter and serve with the pita, olives, walnuts and/or apricots, plus any remaining flavored oil.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine thyme, rosemary, lavender, and savory. Fan out 3 grape leaves on your work surface, vein side up, joining them at their stem ends. Using an ice-cream scoop, place 4 ounces goat cheese in the center, and sprinkle with 1/4 of herb mixture and a grinding of pepper. Wrap leaves over cheese to enclose. Repeat with eight more leaves and remaining cheese. Store remaining leaves in the refrigerator indefinitely.
• Place bundles in a shallow dish or jar, and just add enough oil to cover. Cover with plastic wrap or lid, and refrigerate for at least 24 hours and up to 3 weeks.
• Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove bundles from oil, and drain well on paper towels. Place on grill, folded side down, until leaves are slightly browned, about 3 minutes. Carefully turn over bundle (cheese will be soft and capable of seeping out), and repeat.
• Serve bundles warm atop mixed greens tossed with lemon and olive oil. Open leaves slightly to reveal the fresh herbs. Garnish with olives and bread.

Steps:

• 1. Soak the grape leaves in cold water to cover in a large bowl for 15 minutes, changing the water 2 or 3 times. If using dry sun-dried tomatoes, soak them in hot water to cover for 15 minutes. If using oil-packed dried tomatoes, there is no need to soak them.2. Drain the grape leaves and blot dry with paper towels. Place 8 leaves on your work surface. Drain the tomatoes, blot dry, and cut into thin slivers. Place a piece of cheese in the center of each grape leaf. Sprinkle the slivered tomatoes, pine nuts (if using), thyme, and pepper over the cheese and drizzle with oil. Bring the edges of the grape leaf up around the cheese. Place a second grape leaf on top and bring the edges down so the cheese is entirely covered. Refrigerate the bundles for at least 15 minutes or up to 8 hours (loosely cover with plastic wrap for longer refrigeration).3. Preheat the grill to high.4. When ready to cook, arrange the cheese bundles on the hot grate and grill until the grape leaves brown and the cheese begins to melt, 2 minutes per side, turning once with a spatula. 5. Place the bread slices on the grate and grill until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Serve immediately, unwrapping the grape leaves (they are not eaten) and eating the melted cheese with a fork or spread on the toasted bread.Makes 8 bundles serves 4 as an appetizer

Steps:

• Puree figs with cream or [cream cheese with a little milk] in food processor.
• Transfer to a mixing bowl and whisk in egg and cheese.
• Fold in raisins, pine nuts and cheese.
• Wrap a tablespoon of filling in grape leaves.
• Place in 350 degree oven on a lightly oiled pan and bake until warm, about 15 minutes.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a skillet, add the onions and cook over medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent, about 10 minutes.
• Add the garlic and tomato, lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for another 5 minutes.
• Stir in the rice.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the dill.
• Set aside to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.
• Meanwhile drain the grape leaves and carefully pull them apart. Put them into a bowl of cold water. Let them soak until you are ready to roll.
• Heat the oven to 350°F.
• Place a grape leaves on your work surface, shiny side down. Add 1 tablespoon of the rice mixture to the middle of the grape leaf. Along with a thin slice of goat cheese.
• Fold the sides over the rice and roll the leaf into a small log shape, about the size of a cigar.
• Repeat with the remaining rice mixture.
• Place the rolled grape leaves into a casserole dish.
• When all the mixture or cheese is used, cover rolled leaves with several layers of flat grape leaves and pour in 1 cup of chicken stock.
• Cover and bake for 45 minutes.
• Let cool to room temperature and refrigerate.
• Serve well chilled.

Steps:

• Whisk 1/2 cup oil, thyme, and black pepper in small bowl to blend. Arrange grape leaves, vein side up, on work surface. Dip each cheese round into thyme oil and place in center of 1 grape leaf. Fold sides of leaves over cheese; fold up bottom and continue to roll up, enclosing cheese completely. Arrange wrapped cheeses, seam side down, on platter. Brush lightly with some thyme oil. Cover and chill at least 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead; keep chilled. Cover remaining thyme oil and store at room temperature.)
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Whisk 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, vinegar, and mustard in small bowl to blend. Season dressing with salt and pepper. Slightly overlap tomato slices on large platter. Drizzle with dressing; sprinkle with half of olives.
• Place wrapped cheese rounds on grill, seam side down. Grill until cheese softens and leaves begin to char, about 2 minutes per side. Arrange cheeses atop tomatoes. Sprinkle with remaining olives.
• Brush bread slices with remaining thyme oil. Grill bread until beginning to brown, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes. Cut toasts diagonally in half. Serve cheese, passing toasts separately.