Name: Cheese Wrapped in Grape Leaves
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 8 oz Ossau-Iraty cheese or a semi-hard sheep cheese (cut into four ½-inch slices) (56 g); 8 grape leaves; butchers twine, optional; Zest of 3 lemons, chopped fine; 1 Tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley (also known as Italian parsley) (15 ml); 2 clove garlic, finely chopped; coarse salt, to taste; 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil (5 ml); Vegetable oil, for grilling; 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, for final drizzling over the cheese (30 ml)

YIELDS

4 servings

Gremolata is a flavourful garnish of parsley, lemon peel and garlic, traditionally used as a garnish for Osso buco. It adds a fresh bright flavour to any dish.

Ingredients

Cheese

oz Ossau-Iraty cheese or a semi-hard sheep cheese (cut into four ½-inch slices) (56 g)

grape leaves

butchers twine, optional

Gremolata

Zest of 3 lemons, chopped fine

Tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley (also known as Italian parsley) (15 ml)

clove garlic, finely chopped

coarse salt, to taste

tsp extra virgin olive oil (5 ml)

Assembly

Vegetable oil, for grilling

Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, for final drizzling over the cheese (30 ml)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Directions

Step 1

Lay out two grape leaves, overlapping them by 1-inch. Place the cheese in the middle, and wrap it, folding the grape leaves over the top, overlapping the leaves as they wrap on top of the cheese. If you like, tie the cheese bundle with butcher’s twine to secure. Repeat with remaining pieces of cheese.

Step 2

Combine the zest, chopped parsley, garlic, salt and olive oil in a small bowl and mix thoroughly.

Step 3

Preheat grill medium high heat.

Step 4

Lightly oil the grill with vegetable oil so that the grape leaves don’t stick to the grill. Place the wrapped cheese on the grill and cook for 2 minutes, just until light grill marks appear. Turn over and cook an additional two minutes, or until some of the melted cheese starts to seep from the leaves. Remove immediately.

Step 5

If using butcher’s twine, snip the twine with scissor or a sharp knife. Serve each of the wrapped cheese bundles with the seams of grape leaves facing up. Unfold part of the grape leaves to expose the melted cheese and divide the gremolata on top of the cheese. Drizzle ½ tbsp. of the extra virgin olive oil over the cheese. Serve immediately.

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Cheese Wrapped in Grape Leaves