These rolls made from edible nasturtium leaves are great at room temperature, so can be excellent as a make-ahead dish for picnics or potlucks. I serve them at home as an appetizer or as part of the meal.
3cupscooked short grain rice(may substitute grains or other types of rice, or any combination)
1tablespoonextra virgin olive oil
1onionfinely chopped
1clovegarlicfinely chopped
1cupchopped tomato(fresh or canned/drained)
½poundlean ground beef or lamb(optional)
⅓cuppine nutstoasted
¼cupchopped fresh flat leaf parsley or mint
½cupchopped nasturtium flowers
1 ½tablespoonscapers
1tablespoonextra virgin olive oil
1teaspoonlemon juice
For preparation
20 - 25fresh nasturtium leavesstem trimmed close to the leaf
¾cupvegetable or chicken broth
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350F.
Wash the nasturtium leaves gently in cold water and set them aside.
20 - 25 fresh nasturtium leaves
Making the filling
Make the rice according to package directions and let it cool slightly before starting.
3 cups cooked short grain rice
Place the cooked rice in a large bowl - you’ll be adding the rest of the filling ingredients to the rice.
Sauté the onions and garlic in the olive oil until softened but not browned, then add the chopped tomato and cook on medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Add this mixture to the rice and combine.
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 onion, 1 clove garlic, 1 cup chopped tomato
Place the ground beef in the pan in which you cooked the onion/garlic/tomato mixture, and cook on medium heat, chopping as you go to get a fine crumbled burger.
1/2 pound lean ground beef or lamb
Once the burger is completely cooked, add it to the rice mixture, and combine.
Now stir in the remaining ingredients - toasted pine nuts, chopped parsley, chopped nasturtium flowers, and capers. Taste, adjust with salt and pepper if needed.
1/3 cup pine nuts, 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley or mint, 1/2 cup chopped nasturtium flowers, 1 1/2 tablespoons capers
Making the stuffed nasturtium leaves
Place one of the nasturtium leaves on your work surface, stem side down.(I like to use a large plate for this.) Put a teaspoon or more of the mixture in the center of the leaf, then carefully fold the two sides partially over the rice and roll tightly towards the top of the leaf, ending with the edge tucked underneath.
Repeat with all the leaves and pack tightly in one layer with the seam of the leaf down (so they don’t unroll), into a glass or ceramic baking dish.
Pour chicken broth over the stuffed nasturtium leaves.
Cover the dish tightly and bake on the center rack of your oven for 45 minutes. Check to make sure the rolls are not drying out about halfway through cooking. If they are, spoon some hot broth over them. (Don't spoon cold broth into a hot glass or ceramic baking dish, as it can cause the pan to shatter!)
3/4 cup vegetable or chicken broth
Cool slightly and serve warm, or wait longer and serve at room temperature.
Before serving, drizzle with one tablespoon or so of olive oil, and a teaspoon or so of lemon juice. Refrigerate any remaining rolls.
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Notes
This is a very flexible recipe. Use your imagination and what you have on hand to create a delicious filling! This recipe makes enough filling for 20-25 nasturtium leaves. Extra filling can be frozen or used for something else.
You can make these vegetarian, too. Instead of the meat that's called for, use cooked lentils and let vegetable broth stand in for the chicken broth.