[Sca-cooks] Grape Leaves

[Stefan li Rous]

Eduardo asked:

<<< Does anyone have a tried and true recipe for preserving grape  
leaves?
I am sure I can find TONS of them on the internet and in my library
but if anyone has one they have tried I would appreciate it.
I have not grapes this year on my one year old vines but lots of  
leaves! >>>

Check this file in the FOOD section of the Florilegium:
grape-leaves-msg  (31K) 12/24/04    Use of grape leaves in cooking.  
Sources.

There are recipes in there for using either fresh or preserved grape  
leaves, including uses when fresh in things like salads.

There are also some directions on preparing them such as:
----
don't use the older leaves, use the younger tender leaves.  blanch  
them in
salted water with some lemon juice for a few min., then pat dry and you
should be good to go.

voldai
----
Yes. As with many foods, they are at there best when picked and used  
fresh.
Leaves from any grape species like Lambrusco, Vinifera or even the  
southern
US Scuppernong and wild northeastern US grapes are edible.

Simply pick unblemished grape leaves that are of good size. Remove  
the coarse
leaf stem. Drop them in boiling water for 30 seconds or so to blanch  
and use
as you do the  bottled ones. You will be amazed at the difference in  
flavor
and quality. They can also be blanched and frozen for later use.

Ras
-----
BTW, the leaves are really easy to salt and mine were good for years,  
until
I dropped them.

Cairistiona n
----

Stefan
--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
    Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas           
StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****