World Flavors Cookbook

Kibbeh (Fried Stuffed Croquettes)

Name: Kibbeh (Fried Stuffed Croquettes)
Cook time: 20 min
Cuisine: Lebanon
Ingredients: Shell: 500g fine bulgur (washed and drained), 500g very lean ground lamb or beef, 1 grated onion, 1 tsp allspice, 1 tsp cinnamon, salt. Filling: 300g ground lamb, 2 onions (finely chopped), 1/2 cup pine nuts (toasted), 1 tsp allspice, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, salt and pepper. Oil for deep frying.

The star of the Lebanese mezze: torpedo-shaped shells of bulgur and spiced meat, stuffed with a savory filling of ground lamb, pine nuts, and onions.

Cuisine: Lebanon

Ingredients

Shell: 500g fine bulgur (washed and drained), 500g very lean ground lamb or beef, 1 grated onion, 1 tsp allspice, 1 tsp cinnamon, salt. Filling: 300g ground lamb, 2 onions (finely chopped), 1/2 cup pine nuts (toasted), 1 tsp allspice, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, salt and pepper. Oil for deep frying.

Instructions

Prepare the shell: Knead the bulgur, lean meat, grated onion, and spices into a smooth, dough-like paste. Prepare the filling: Sauté onions and ground lamb until browned, then stir in pine nuts and spices. To assemble: Take a golf-ball sized portion of the shell dough, make a hole with your finger, and thin out the walls into a hollow torpedo shape. Stuff with a spoonful of filling and pinch the top to seal. Deep fry in hot oil until dark golden and crispy. Serve hot.