Stuffed Vine Leaves
Heat the olive oil in a pan, add the onions and cook gently to soften but not brown. Crumble in the pork, cook gently for 5 minutes or until the pork has coloured. Stir in the tomatoes, parsley, mint, cinnamon and rice. Season well and cook for a few minutes more.
Have ready a stack of the vine leaves, vein side up, the pork mixture and a shallow circular ovenproof dish ready to put the dolmades in.
To form koupepia place 1 tsp of the filling up from the centre base of the leaf, fold the leaf over the mince from the base then fold in the left and right side of the leaf. Now roll up, not too tightly, to make a little cigar shape.
Continue making until all the koupepia are packed in the dish. Squeeze on the lemon juice and cover with any remaining vine leaves, like a blanket. Place an inverted plate on top of the vine leaves. Carefully pour boiling water in around the edge of the dish to come up to just touch the plate. Cover with foil, cook in a preheated oven 200°C /Gas 6 for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 180°C/Gas 4 and cook for a further 30 minutes. Serve warm or cold.
Source: Cyprus Tourism Organisation