Originally Posted April 7, 2012
Another great Costco find was these Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves from Frankly Fresh.  Not only are these gluten-free but also dairy-free as well.  Now, if you are thinking of those small, tightly wrapped grape leaves that you’ll typically find in tins – which I love, don’t get me wrong – these are a cut above and have a a really unique flavor, not to mention they are huge.

The complex stuffing contains: rice; onion; tomato; bell pepper; parsley; cilantro; dill; and mint.  The ingredients are perfectly balanced and complimented by extra virgin olive oil and a hint of lemon juice that gives the grape leaves just a slight acid kick.  Throw in a hint a tomato paste and dash of garlic powder to add another flavor dimension to these and you have, what in my opinion, are the most unique-tasting grape leave I have come across – and believe me, they are addictive.

Each package contains twenty over-sized grape leaves and come in a re-sealable container making it a practical option to keep in the refrigerator and use as an easy side or main course.  I highly recommend giving these grape leaves a try.  Their Web site appears to be undergoing a revision so you will have to check back to view their product portfolio.

Update August 12, 2012: I have since tried these grape leaves two additional times since a package I bought from Costco was moldy when opened.  Unfortunately, both of those went moldy almost immediately after opening.  Both of those had expiration dates well after their purchase date.  I am not certain why this is happening all of a sudden but I have received e-mails and comments that it is happening to other people as well.