Yalanji

Yalanji is a cold Syrian appetizer made with grape leaves packed with rice and a variety of vegetables. Yalanji is a Turkish term that meaning "liar," and it gets its name from the lack of flesh in the filling. Yalanji is a term used in the culinary industry to describe vegetarian stuffed vegetables or dolmas. This is because traditional dolmas are stuffed with a fragrant meat and rice mixture, but yalanji dolmas are "fake" because they are vegetarian.

Yalanji are vine leaves that have been stuffed with cooked rice and mixed vegetables. They are slowly simmered with lemon juice to allow the leaves to impart their flavor to the other ingredients before serving cold as an appetizer to a main course. Bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions are common vegetables used in stuffing. This is then seasoned with herbs and spices such as b'har, mint, garlic, and pomegranate molasses from Syria. The filling is the true star of yalanji. The vegetable on the outside serves only as a vehicle for the tasty vegetarian stuffing inside. Grape leaves and even tiny baby eggplants are commonly used to stuff yalanji, but silky swiss chard leaves can also be employed.

Yabrak, a similar dish of vine leaves stuffed with rice and minced meat, is served hot as a main course.