Artichoke Dolma (Dolma) with Rice

We hollow out 4 trimmed artichokes. We rub the trimmed artichokes with lemon and set them aside.

In a bowl, we combine 150 g ground meat, 1 finely chopped onion, 1 handful chopped parsley, 1 handful chopped dill, 1 tea glass (about 100 ml / 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp) of picked and washed rice, 1 tablespoon salça (Turkish tomato/pepper paste), 1 dessert spoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon dried mint, and 1/2 tea glass (about 50 ml) water, and knead together.

We distribute the prepared stuffing into the artichokes. We spread 1 dessert spoon of salça across the bottom of the pot and arrange the artichokes on top. We drizzle 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over them. We add water just below the level of the artichokes. Once the water comes to a boil, we reduce the heat and let them cook on low.

About This Recipe

 

From Zeus on Mount Ida to kings across Europe, the artichoke has been beloved for thousands of years, gracing our tables and regarded as a remedy for nearly every ailment. The artichoke has been known since the time of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire.

It adorned the tables of kings and nobles of those eras. In times past, the artichoke was considered a dish fit for the aristocracy. Beginning to spread across Europe in the 15th century, it reached France, England, and Germany in the 16th century, and America in the 17th century. The nobles and aristocrats of the Roman Empire preferred to flavor artichokes with a sauce made from spices, vinegar, and honey. Artichokes prepared with this sauce could also be preserved for a long time. In our country, artichokes began to be cultivated in the 16th century by Jews who migrated from Europe to Ottoman lands.

In the 17th century, Louis XIII's doctor, La Framboisière, wrote in an essay that artichokes warmed the blood, accelerated its flow, and encouraged human nature toward an amorous battle with Venus. Following this, artichokes began to be eaten only by men as an aphrodisiac vegetable and were banned for women!

85% of the artichokes consumed in the world are produced by Mediterranean countries. Italy ranks first, followed by Egypt, Spain, and Peru. Our country ranks seventh.

In Turkish cuisine, we make all kinds of delicious artichoke dishes and love each and every one of them. Here is one of them: Artichoke Dolma (Dolma) with Rice.