Kabak Dolması

Method

1. Rinse 25 g of short-grain rice in a sieve until the water runs clear, then leave it to soak in warm water for 15 minutes. Drain well.
2. Trim the stem ends from 2 courgettes and cut them to about 10 cm if long. Hollow each one out with an apple corer or a narrow teaspoon, working from the cut end and leaving walls and a base about 5 mm thick so they hold their shape. Rinse out the cavities and stand them upright to drain.
3. In a bowl, knead together 70 g of minced lamb, the drained rice, 40 g of finely chopped onion, 45 g of the grated tomato, 1 tbsp of chopped parsley, 0.5 tsp of dried mint, 0.25 tsp of pul biber, 0.5 tsp of salt, the black pepper and 1 tsp of olive oil. Work it for a minute with your hand until it is sticky and evenly mixed.