Sogan Dolma

Contributed by User:Frozen.rainbow (Blog)

Ingredients

 * 2-3 red onions (try to pick large ones — the recipe called for regular onions, I chose to use red ones)
 * ⅓ lb ground meat (beef or lamb)
 * ¼ cup rice
 * 1½ tbsp butter
 * 2 tbsp olive oil
 * 2 tbsp tomato paste
 * 2 tbsp red pepper paste (if you cannot find it, use tomato paste)
 * ⅓ cup crushed dried sumac
 * 1 tsp dried mint flakes
 * 1 tsp oregano leaves
 * 1 tsp cumin
 * 1 tsp black pepper
 * 1 tsp or more crushed red pepper flakes
 * 1 cup hot water
 * salt

Directions

 * 1) Cut the bottom parts of onions ¼ inch and peel.
 * 2) Boil them until soft, but not too soft. Rinse and let cool down.
 * 3) Squeeze each one to get every single layer. You will be stuffing those layers. If slippery, use a clean kitchen towel to grip and squeeze.
 * 4) Wash rice in plenty water and rinse.
 * 5) Soak sumac in hot water for 15 minutes and drain. Save the water.
 * 6) Heat butter in a frying pan.
 * 7) Add pastes, spices, and salt. Mix well and cook for 3-4 minutes.
 * 8) Take the pan off the fire.
 * 9) Add ground meat, rice, and sumac. Mix well.
 * 10) Stuff onions with the mix and place them in a broad pot.
 * 11) Pour in sumac water.
 * 12) After it starts boiling, simmer covered on low for half an hour.
 * 13) Serve hot with crusty bread.
 * 14) We loved it, especially with yogurt.