Description
A delicious Lebanese dish made of fine bulgur wheat and ground meat, shaped into footballs and stuffed with a spiced filling.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ cups (240g) fine bulgur wheat
- 1 lb (450g) lean ground lamb
- 1 small yellow onion, very finely grated
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, very finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, finely chopped (optional)
- 1½ teaspoons Lebanese 7 spice
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2–3 tablespoons ice water
- 1 lb (450g) lean ground beef or lamb (for filling)
- 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup (70g) pine nuts, toasted
- 1½ teaspoons Lebanese 7 spice
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses (optional)
- Vegetable oil for deep frying
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (for baking version)
- Plain yogurt or labneh (for serving)
- Fresh mint leaves and lemon wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Make the hashweh filling first. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook 8–10 minutes until golden.
- Add the ground beef, breaking it down, and cook until no pink remains, about 8–10 minutes. Stir in spices and pine nuts; cool completely.
- Prepare the kibbeh dough by rinsing bulgur and soaking for 10 minutes. Drain and squeeze out moisture.
- Combine bulgur with lamb, onion, and spices. Knead until smooth. Refrigerate if too soft.
- Shape the kibbeh by taking a portion of dough, forming a hollow ball, filling, and sealing it.
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) and fry kibbeh for 5–7 minutes until golden brown.
- For the baked version, preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Press half the dough in a baking dish, top with filling, cover with remaining dough, score, and bake for 35–40 minutes.
Notes
Keep ice water nearby while shaping to prevent the dough from sticking. Serve with yogurt or labneh.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying or Baking
- Cuisine: Lebanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 45mg