How to make Dolma (Stuffed Vegetables)

Welcome back to “Cook with Esso”! Today, we are making Dolma! Dolma is a traditional Armenian dish made by stuffing different types of vegetables with a meat & rice mixture. We are also cooking a dish with the pulps of the squash, which is called Chtma! Let’s get cooking!
Ingredients:
15 green squash (Mexican Squash). You may also use different vegetables, such as pepper, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, etc.
1 1/2 cups white rice
1 lb. ground beef (I like to use Chuck Roast)
The purée of 2 tomatoes
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 1/2 tbsp. tomato paste
1 1/2 tbsp. pepper paste
6 minced garlic cloves
The juice of 2 lemons
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. red pepper
1/4 tsp. black pepper
For the sauce:
4 cups water
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. red pepper
1 1/2 tsp. dried mint
The juice of 2 lemons
4 minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp. tomato sauce
Chtma:
2 cups of the filling of the squash
1 chopped onion
2 peppers chopped
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. red pepper
Instructions:
Dolma:
1. Prepare the squash by cutting off the front and end. Chop an inch of each squash and save it.
2. Dip the front end of squash into salt.
3. Begin to remove the pulp of the squash. You can buy the tool from any Armenian market. Save the pulp for another recipe!
4. Wash the squash and pat dry.
5. Wash the rice and transfer to a medium sized mixing bowl. Add the meat, tomato purée, sauce & paste, pepper paste, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper, red pepper. Mix with hands to combine.
6. Begin stuffing the squash with the mixture. Arrange in a large pot.
7. In a small sauce pan, boil water, add salt, pepper, red pepper, mint, lemon juice, garlic, tomato sauce.
8. Pour the sauce over the dolma, cover with a plate, and allow water to reach above the plate. Close the lid and allow to cook for 1 hour over medium heat.
9. Serve with the sauce it cooked with and enjoy!
Chtma:
1. Chop the filling of the squash, the onion, and peppers.
2. Heat olive oil in medium pot, add onions. Allow to cook for 5 minutes.
3. Add squash filling, fresh peppers, salt, red pepper and stir to combine.
4. Cover and allow to cook for 15-20 minutes over medium low heat.
5. Serve and enjoy!