Kibbeh, a Levantine dish with a rich history, is a delightful combination of cracked bulgur, minced meat, and aromatic spices. Originating in Syria, kibbeh has become a culinary treasure, savored for its unique texture and burst of flavors. This article presents a collection of three delectable kibbeh recipes that showcase the diverse culinary heritage of the Middle East:
1. Baked Kibbeh: This classic kibbeh recipe features a tender and juicy meatloaf encased in a crispy bulgur shell. The combination of ground beef, lamb, and pine nuts creates a harmonious blend of flavors, while the addition of aromatic spices like cumin, cinnamon, and allspice adds depth and warmth.
2. Kibbeh Bil Laban: This unique kibbeh variation combines the traditional meat mixture with a creamy yogurt sauce. The result is a rich and tangy dish that offers a delightful contrast between the crispy kibbeh shell and the smooth, velvety yogurt sauce.
3. Kibbeh Nayyeh: For those who prefer a raw meat experience, kibbeh nayyeh is a must-try. Made with finely minced raw meat, bulgur, and a blend of spices, this dish is often served as an appetizer and is a true testament to the culinary expertise of the Middle East.
Whether you're a seasoned kibbeh enthusiast or a curious foodie looking to explore new culinary horizons, these recipes provide a perfect starting point. With detailed instructions and helpful tips, you'll be able to recreate these authentic dishes in your own kitchen and indulge in the vibrant flavors of the Middle East.
BAKED KIBBEH
Steps:
- Make filling:
- Cook onion in oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Add lamb, allspice, salt, cinnamon, and pepper and cook, stirring and breaking up lumps, until lamb is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1/3 cup pine nuts.
- Make bulgur mixture:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Cover bulgur by 1 inch with cold water in a bowl. When dust and chaff rise to surface, pour off water, then repeat rinsing 2 more times. Cover rinsed bulgur with cold water by 1 inch and let stand 10 minutes. Drain in a fine-mesh sieve, pressing hard on bulgur to remove excess liquid, and transfer to a large bowl.
- Pulse onion in a food processor until finely chopped. Add lamb, allspice, salt, cinnamon, and pepper and pulse until onion is finely minced (meat will look smooth). Add to bulgur and mix with your hands to combine well.
- Assemble and bake kibbeh:
- Lightly grease pie plate with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Press half of bulgur mixture evenly onto bottom and up side of plate (up 1 inch if using skillet). Spoon filling evenly over bulgur mixture. Spoon remaining bulgur mixture over filling and spread to cover, smoothing top. Brush top with remaining olive oil and score in a crosshatch pattern with a paring knife.
- Bake kibbeh in middle of oven until cooked through, 35 to 40 minutes.
- Preheat broiler. Broil kibbeh 5 to 7 inches from heat until top is golden brown and crusty, 3 to 5 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
AUNT LOUISE'S BAKED KIBBEH
This is the variation of beef and lamb kibbeh that I grew up with in a very ethnic Lebanese family. My Aunt Louise was the bomb!
Provided by Russ Neimy
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Middle Eastern Lebanese
Time 1h35m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Place bulgur in a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand until water is absorbed, about 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Stir 1/4 cup onion, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, basil, and pepper into the bulgur. Add ground beef and 1/2 pound lamb; mix well. Divide mixture into 2 portions. Pat 1 portion over the bottom of a 12x7-inch baking dish.
- Pat the other portion into a matching rectangle on a piece of waxed paper. Set aside for the top.
- Cook and stir remaining 1/4 cup onion and 1/2 pound lamb in a skillet until browned, about 5 minutes. Drain excess grease from the skillet. Stir in pine nuts and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spoon lamb-pine nut mixture over the meat layer in the baking dish.
- Invert top layer over the filling. Peel off waxed paper. Score top layer into diamond shapes by cutting diagonally in both directions, leaving about 3 inches between cuts. Press a small dab of butter into the middle of each diamond.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Garnish with cherry tomatoes and mint.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 363.7 calories, Carbohydrate 16.1 g, Cholesterol 79.6 mg, Fat 23.4 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 23.2 g, SaturatedFat 8.9 g, Sodium 663.5 mg, Sugar 0.8 g
MIDDLE EASTERN KIBBEH
Kibbeh is a wonderful dish from the Middle East traditionally made with lamb meat but beef is acceptable, too. I prefer it made into patties and fried in olive oil. However, it is most often found in restaurants in baked form. Serve kibbeh with tahini, a sesame seed paste.
Provided by Ron Shepherd
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Middle Eastern Israeli
Time 32m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place bulgur in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with water just to the top of the bulgur. Place in the microwave and cook on High 1 to 2 minutes until bulgur is swollen and the water is absorbed. Toss briefly and allow to stand until cool.
- Place the mint leaves in the bowl of a food processor. Process, gradually adding onion through the feed tube, until both mint and onion are finely chopped. Stir the mint-onion mixture into the bulgur, with the cumin, allspice, salt, and pepper. Stir the bulgur mixture into the ground lamb and mix thoroughly. Using damp hands, shape the lamb mixture into small, palm-sized patties.
- Place the olive oil in a skillet and heat over medium heat. Add the kibbeh patties and cook until outside is golden brown and center is cooked through, turning once, about 6 minutes on each side.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 159.3 calories, Carbohydrate 7.4 g, Cholesterol 38 mg, Fat 9.6 g, Fiber 1.7 g, Protein 10.9 g, SaturatedFat 3.4 g, Sodium 227.9 mg, Sugar 0.6 g
BAKED LEBANESE KIBBE
The Middle Eastern way with ground lamb, or beef, for that matter, is in combination with cracked bulgur wheat and onion. There are hundreds of ways to turn this delicious mixture into kibbe, little football-shaped savory treats sold and eaten everywhere and made daily in homes throughout the region. (There are other kinds of kibbe, too, like fish, but that's another story.) For a less labor-intensive version, kibbe can also be baked like a flat cake. It makes an extraordinarily fragrant meatloaf, adorned with long-cooked caramelized onions and pine nuts, to be eaten hot, warm, cold or reheated.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories dinner, weekday, main course
Time 1h20m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Rinse the bulgur well, then cover with cold water and soak for 20 minutes. Drain well.
- Put the drained bulgur, lamb, grated onion, cumin and cayenne in a large mixing bowl. Season with 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Mix well with your hands to distribute the seasoning. With a wooden spoon, beat in about 1/2 cup ice water. The mixture should be smooth and soft.
- Heat the olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and fry gently, stirring occasionally, until they soften, about 5 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Raise the heat and add 1/4 cup of the lamb mixture. Continue frying, allowing the meat to get crumbly and the onions to brown nicely, another 10 minutes or so. Stir in the pine nuts and taste. Let cool to room temperature.
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a shallow 9-by-13-inch baking dish, then press half the remaining lamb mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan. Spread half the onion-pine nut mixture over the meat. Add the rest of the meat to the pan, patting and pressing it with wet hands to make a smooth top. If desired, score the top with a sharp paring knife to make a traditional diamond pattern at least 1/2-inch deep.
- Bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden. Spread with the remaining onion-pine nut mixture. Serve warm, at room temperature or cool, with a dollop of yogurt.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 437, UnsaturatedFat 20 grams, Carbohydrate 24 grams, Fat 31 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 18 grams, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Sodium 380 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams
KIBBIE SENIYEH (PAN BAKED KIBBEE)
This is the kibbee that I've learned how to make a teenager. I do not have a meat grinder, and it still turns out well. I also tend to add more pine nuts and allspice than the recipe calls for as my family and I enjoy the taste of them.
Provided by Lyainna
Categories Lamb/Sheep
Time 1h40m
Yield 1 pan, 12-16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Filling: In skillet, add meat and butter. Fry on medium heat until half done and most of liquid has disappeared.
- Stir in remaining ingredients and continue cooking for approximately ten minutes.
- Remove from heat and set aside.
- Kibbee:.
- Wash burghul, drain and set aside for 30 minutes.
- Grind lamb (or beef) and onion through fine meat grinder (if you don't have a grinder, I use a blender or food processor to puree the onions and mix well into the meat.).
- Add seasoning to meat and mix.
- Add burghul, mix well - if you have grinder, grind it all together twice.
- Knead meat well, using a little ice water to soften.
- Grease a 10x14 baking pan (9x13 is fine) with butter.
- Divide kibbee in half, and spread first half over bottom of pan. Dip hand in ice water frequently to help smooth out meat.
- Spread filling evenly over first layer.
- Spread second half of kibbee over filling by forming patties in palms and cover entire surface. Use ice water to smooth meat.
- Score kibbee with knife into diamond shapes. Run knife around edges of pan to loosen meat from the side of the pan.
- Make a hole in the center of kibbee with finger tip. Let rest at least one hour before baking.
- Heat oven to 450 degrees. Pour 2/3 cup mazola oil over top of kibbee.
- Bake on lowest shelf until bottom is brown, about 40 minutes.
- Serve with pita bread.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 408.2, Fat 36, SaturatedFat 11.6, Cholesterol 77.8, Sodium 989.6, Carbohydrate 2.2, Fiber 0.5, Sugar 0.9, Protein 18.4
Tips:
- Choose the right meat: Use ground beef or lamb with at least 20% fat content for a moist and flavorful kibbee.
- Season the meat well: Use a combination of spices, such as allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg, to give the kibbee a unique flavor.
- Chill the meat before cooking: This will help the kibbee hold its shape and prevent it from falling apart.
- Use a well-seasoned cast iron skillet: This will help the kibbee get a crispy crust.
- Cook the kibbee over medium heat: This will help it cook evenly and prevent it from burning.
- Serve the kibbee with your favorite sides: Kibbee is traditionally served with rice, lentils, or yogurt sauce.
Conclusion:
Kibbee is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to use up leftover meat, and it can be served as an appetizer, main course, or snack. Whether you are looking for a traditional Syrian dish or something new to try, kibbee is a great option. So next time you are in the mood for something different, give kibbee a try.
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