Kibbeh is a Levantine dish made of bulgur, minced meat, and spices. It is a national dish of Lebanon and is also popular in Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Iraq. Kibbeh can be prepared in a variety of ways, but the most popular method is to shape it into balls or patties and fry them. The meat used in kibbeh is typically lamb or beef, but it can also be made with chicken or turkey. The bulgur is a type of wheat that is cracked and parboiled. It is used to give kibbeh its distinctive texture. The spices used in kibbeh vary depending on the region, but common ingredients include cumin, coriander, allspice, and cinnamon. Kibbeh is often served with a yogurt sauce or a tahini sauce. This article provides recipes for three different types of kibbeh: fried kibbeh, baked kibbeh, and kibbeh soup.
1. **Fried Kibbeh:** This is the most popular way to prepare kibbeh. The kibbeh balls are shaped and then fried until they are golden brown. They can be served as an appetizer or a main course.
2. **Baked Kibbeh:** This is a healthier way to prepare kibbeh. The kibbeh balls are shaped and then baked in the oven. They can be served as an appetizer or a main course.
3. **Kibbeh Soup:** This is a hearty and flavorful soup made with kibbeh and a variety of vegetables. It is often served as a main course or a side dish.
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
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
KIBBEE LEBANESE STYLE
Simple Lebanese style lamb kibbee. It's a traditional basic recipe. Kibbee is to Middle Eastern cooking what a meatball is to Italian cooking. If you can not make it, stay out of the kitchen. I am not Lebanese by the way, but worked for 2 decades in a restaurant serving this type of food. I am actually Ukrainian.
Provided by MikeP
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Middle Eastern Lebanese
Time 45m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch square baking dish.
- Soak bulgur in hot water until the bulgur expands and cools, about 10 minutes. Place the bulgur, mint, allspice, pepper, cinnamon, salt, onion, parsley, and lamb in a food processor. Process until well mixed, about 1 minute. Divide the lamb mixture and layer half in the baking dish, creating a large patty. Sprinkle pine nuts over the meat, then layer the remaining lamb on top, patting firmly. Cut the kibbee into 1 1/2 inch squares.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the lamb is no longer pink in the middle, 30 to 35 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 416.9 calories, Carbohydrate 16.8 g, Cholesterol 82.9 mg, Fat 29 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 22.4 g, SaturatedFat 12 g, Sodium 218.9 mg, Sugar 1.4 g
LEBANESE RAW KIBBEH RECIPE - MAKE KIBBEH NAYYEH AT HOME
Steps:
- Since we're going to be eating it raw, freeze the meat for 2 weeks prior to making the dish if possible in order to reduce typical raw meat contamination and bacteria. Also try to buy quality local, fresh meat whenever possible.
- Partially thaw the meat for 6 hours in the fridge prior to preparing the dish.
- Place the Bulgur in a small bowl and rinse it with cold water, then drain and squeeze to get rid of as much water as possible.
- Put the meat in a food processor along with about 5 cubes of ice and half of the cinnamon and spin it for about 3-5 minutes until it becomes very fine. Important: stop the processor every minute or so and feel the meat to ensure it's not warming up. If it is, add a bit more ice cubes and spin. Once done, set aside in a large bowl.
- To make the spice mix, put the green pepper, mint, marjoram, onion, salt, chili powder and 7-spices in the food processor and mix them well.
- Add the Bulgur, spice mix on top of the meat and knead well for a few minutes to make sure that all ingredients have integrated well.
- Immediately after the kneading, place the Kibbeh Nayyeh in a serving plate and flatten it making symmetric dents in it with the edge of a spoon for show.
- Drizzle extra virgin olive oil and fresh mint leaves on top.
- Serve cold along a side of pita bread, and a veggie plate which may include white onions, green onions, chili peppers, mint, salty chili pepper pickles etc...
Nutrition Facts : Calories 396 kcal, Carbohydrate 35 g, Protein 6 g, Fat 28 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 607 mg, Fiber 9 g, Sugar 3 g, UnsaturatedFat 23 g, ServingSize 1 serving
Tips:
- To make the bulgur easier to work with, soak it in warm water for 30 minutes before using.
- If you don't have a meat grinder, you can chop the meat very finely by hand.
- Be sure to season the meat well with salt and pepper before cooking.
- Cook the meat over medium heat so that it doesn't dry out.
- If you're using a food processor to make the kibbeh, be sure to pulse it only until the ingredients are combined. Over-processing will make the kibbeh tough.
- When shaping the kibbeh, be sure to wet your hands to prevent the mixture from sticking.
- You can fry the kibbeh in a pan or bake it in the oven. If you're frying it, be sure to use a non-stick pan and cook the kibbeh over medium heat until it's golden brown.
Conclusion:
Kibbeh is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. Whether you serve it as an appetizer, main course, or side dish, it's sure to be a hit. So next time you're looking for something new to try, give kibbeh a try. You won't be disappointed.
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