Lebanese Kibbeh Spiced Meat (Printable Version)

Classic Lebanese dish blending spiced meat and bulgur, shaped and cooked to a golden crisp for rich flavors.

# What You'll Need:

→ Kibbeh Dough

01 - 1 cup fine bulgur wheat
02 - 1.1 lbs lean ground beef or lamb
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 1 tsp salt
05 - 1 tsp ground allspice
06 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
07 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
08 - 2 tbsp cold water, as needed

→ Filling

09 - 9 oz ground beef or lamb
10 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
11 - 1/2 cup pine nuts
12 - 1 tbsp olive oil
13 - 1/2 tsp ground allspice
14 - 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
15 - 1/2 tsp salt
16 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ For Frying or Baking

17 - Vegetable oil, about 2 cups for frying
18 - Olive oil for brushing, if baking

# How to Make It:

01 - Rinse bulgur in cold water and drain well. Let it sit for 10 minutes to soften.
02 - In a large bowl, combine softened bulgur, ground meat, onion, salt, allspice, cinnamon, and black pepper. Knead the mixture, adding cold water as needed to form a smooth, cohesive dough. Cover and refrigerate while preparing the filling.
03 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions until soft, about 3 minutes. Add ground meat and cook until browned, breaking up lumps.
04 - Stir in pine nuts, allspice, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until pine nuts are golden. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
05 - With wet hands, take golf ball-sized pieces of dough and flatten them into thin oval shells. Place 1 to 2 teaspoons of filling in the center. Pinch edges together to seal, shaping into torpedo forms.
06 - Continue shaping remaining dough and filling.
07 - Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan to 350°F. Fry kibbeh in batches for 4 to 5 minutes until deep golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
08 - Preheat oven to 390°F. Place kibbeh on a parchment-lined baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, turning halfway through, until crisp and golden.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The contrast between the crispy exterior and soft, spiced interior is addictive and impossible to stop eating.
  • It feels fancy enough to serve at a dinner party but casual enough for a weeknight snack.
  • Once you master the shaping, you'll find it oddly therapeutic to make batch after batch.
02 -
  • If your dough feels too dry and cracks at the edges while shaping, add water by the teaspoon—not by the tablespoon. Patience here saves you from a sticky mess.
  • The filling must be completely cool before you fill the dough, or the heat will soften the shell and cause leaks during cooking.
  • Don't skip the resting period for the bulgur; it's the difference between kibbeh that holds together and kibbeh that falls apart.
03 -
  • Keep a bowl of cold water beside you while shaping—wet hands prevent sticking and make sealing much cleaner.
  • If the oil is too cool, the kibbeh will absorb oil and become greasy; if it's too hot, the outside browns before the inside cooks. Use a thermometer and trust it.
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