mahshi ~ warak enab ~ stuffed grape leaves

family recipe 2025

Prep Time: ~3 hours

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time:  5 hours 

Servings: 15 - 20 people

Ingredients

• 2 lbs beef

• 1 lb ground lamb

• 5 cups of rice

• 5ish yellow onions (Half sliced in big rounds, Half blended)

• 2 bunches of parsley (Half blended, Half in pot)

• Few sprigs of mint (Blended)

• 2 tbsp Tomato paste

• 10 Lemons (4 sliced, 6 juiced)

• 4 Garlic Bulbs (15-20 cloves)

• 1 Jar of Grape Leaves** (could use another!)

• 1-2 Tomatoes (Sliced!)

• One rack of lamb chops

• 1-2 cups White wine

• 2 Quarts Chicken Broth

• Ghee

• Olive Oil

• Cumin

• Coriander 

• Salt

• Pepper

Instructions 

Prepping the grape leaves!

1. Rinse the grape leaves

2. Blanch the grape leaves with lemon juice and salt

3. Rinse grape leaves to cool down

4. Wash the rice until the water runs clear!

5. Blend yellow onions, parsley and mint until finely chopped 

6. Mix washed rice, ground meat, Vegetable mixture of onions, parsley, and mint with 3 tablespoons of tomato paste, and generous portions of cumin, coriander, salt and pepper 

7. Take 2-3 tbsp meat mixture and fold into grape leaves 

Prepping the lamb rib chops! 

• Cut lamb rib chops into individual pieces

• Season with salt, pepper, and spices

• Sear in olive oil and ghee in the bottom of the pot

Cooking the mahshi!

• Lay the lamb chops on the bottom layer of the pan. 

• Cover the lamb chops with a layer of sliced onions and parsley

• Cover with grape leaves. 

• Layer tomatoes and sliced lemons

• Stack the stuffed grapes tight with smashed whole garlic cloves between mahshi

• Heat up broth by melting ghee, salt, and a small amount of chicken broth 

• Pour broth over mahshi and add extra chicken broth and white wine until it covers the top

• Bring pot to a boil then let simmer for 1 - 2 hours

• Drain any excess liquid

• Flip onto a flat surface quickly and put down immediately 

• Remove the pot and enjoy! 

Prints available upon request.