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Dolma | Traditional Ground Meat Dish From Turkiye | TasteAtlas
Dolma | Traditional Ground Meat Dish From Turkiye | TasteAtlas
Dolma | Traditional Ground Meat Dish From Turkiye | TasteAtlas
Dolma | Traditional Ground Meat Dish From Turkiye | TasteAtlas
Dolma | Traditional Ground Meat Dish From Turkiye | TasteAtlas
Dolma | Traditional Ground Meat Dish From Turkiye | TasteAtlas
Dolma | Traditional Ground Meat Dish From Turkiye | TasteAtlas

Dolmades

(Dolmadakia, Dolmades, Tolma, Ντολμάδες, ტოლმა)

Dolma is Türkiye's national dish, and it signifies any sort of vegetable stuffed with a mixture based on rice. For traditional dolma, grape leaves are stuffed with rice and ground meat. Stuffed leaves were first made at the court of King Khusrow II in the early 7th century.


The popularity of dolma spread throughout the Muslim world, so there are numerous variations of the dish. Dolma is divided into two groups: dolma without meat and dolma with olive oil. Those without meat and cooked with olive oil are called yalanci, meaning imitation.


Meat dolmas must always include rice, or sometimes bulgur. As explorer Pietro della Valle wrote, "If it doesn't contain rice, it is not a Turkish dish." Nevertheless, the end result is always the same–delicious and flavorful stuffed rolls.

and  3 more regions

Recipe variations

  • 4.5

    Biber dolması

    READY IN 3h 40min

    Adapted from the gastronomy book Turkish Cuisine With Timeless Recipes, this recipe shows how to prepare biber dolması stuffed with a mixture of rice, currants, pine nuts, and an array of herbs and spices. 

  • 4.5

    Patlıcan Dolmasi

    READY IN 3h 10min

    Adapted from the gastronomy book Turkish Cuisine With Timeless Recipes, this recipe shows how to prepare patlıcan dolmasi or stuffed eggplants. In this variant, the sun-dried eggplants are soaked in sumac-flavored water to soften, then stuffed with a mixture of lamb or mutton, rice, garlic, onion, red pepper paste, herbs, and spices. Once stuffed, they are placed in a saucepan and arranged atop veal ribs and poured over with the sumac juice and olive oil, and cooked on the stove. Instead of ribs, you can also use a mixture of sliced carrots and onions for the saucepan base. 

  • 4.5

    Enginar Dolmasi

    READY IN 1h 40min

    Adapted from the gastronomy book Turkish Cuisine With Timeless Recipes, this recipe shows how to prepare enginar dolmasi the traditional way. In this variant, the artichokes are stuffed with a meatless filling, just a mixture of rice, herbs, and seasonings.

Dolmades Authentic recipe

PREP 45min
COOK 1h 10min
cooling 45min
RESTING  1h
READY IN 3h 40min

Adapted from the gastronomy book Turkish Cuisine With Timeless Recipes, this recipe shows how to prepare biber dolması stuffed with a mixture of rice, currants, pine nuts, and an array of herbs and spices. 

WHERE TO EAT The best Dolmades in the world (according to food experts)

Dolmades festivals

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4.1
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