Grape leaves // fruit

🌱🍇🤔 Did you know that grape leaves are edible? Grape leaves have been used for centuries in traditional dishes around the world. But not all grape leaves taste the same, some are bitter, and some sweet taste, which is why they can be used in various recipes, from appetizers to main dishes.

💪 Overall, grape leaves are both low in calories and high in fiber. They also have high amounts of vitamin A and vitamin K. Additionally, they have a very high antioxidant content.

👩‍🍳 Grape leaves can be fresh or preserved in jars or cans. They can be used raw in salads or cooked steaming/boiling into a soft texture, commonly stuffed with different fillings from seasonal vegetables, rice, and plant-based meats.   

👵💚 Grandma Sita’s tips:
*Fresh grape leaves should be blanched before using. Either soak in very hot water for 15 minutes to soften the leaves or blanch grape leaves in a brine until they are soft the time will depend on the leaves.
*You can freeze grape leaves to have them ready to use throughout the year.
*Dry grape leaves to make a tea that will remind you of an earthy green tea. This is a great way to make use of cuttings that would otherwise be thrown away.

📗 A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant. Grapes are eaten raw, dried (as raisins, currants, and sultanas), or cooked and can be processed into a multitude of products such as jams, juices, vinegar, and oils. Also, depending on the grape cultivar, grapes are used in winemaking.

🌎 Eating local and seasonal fruit and vegetables helps to reduce food waste, saves resources, improves food quality and healthy habits, and boosts the local economy. Cheers to grapevine plants!

📍 Rías Baixas vineyard in Galicia (Northwest of Spain). Rías Baixas DO is renowned for its white wines made from the Albariño grape variety.