Lamb and Vegetable Dolmades

Rinse the vine leaves. Add them to a saucepan of boiling water and bring back to the boil. Blanch for 2–3 minutes, then drain the vine leaves and set aside.

For the filling, cook the onion and lamb in a non-stick frying pan for 5 minutes, stirring, until the lamb is browned and the onion is soft. Add the courgette and pine nuts and cook, stirring, for a further 3–4 minutes. Stir in the rice, mint and stock.

Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 7–8 minutes or until the stock is absorbed (the rice will not be completely cooked). Remove from the heat and season to taste, then set aside to cool slightly.

Preheat the oven to 190ºC (375ºF, gas mark 5). Snip off any long stalks on the vine leaves, then lay them out on a board with the veins uppermost and smooth sides underneath. (You will probably have to work in batches as there are about 40 vine leaves in a packet.) Place a heaped teaspoon of the filling in the centre of each leaf. Fold the sides of the leaf over the filling and roll up into a neat cigar-shaped parcel.

Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole. Add the fennel and red and green peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes with their juice and a little seasoning. Add the vine leaf parcels to the casserole, pushing the slivers of garlic between them. Pour in the stock and sprinkle on the lemon juice.

Cover and cook in the oven for 1 hour or until the vine leaves are tender and the filling is firm and well cooked. Remove from the oven and leave to stand, covered, for 15 minutes. Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley sprigs before serving.