Kibbeh is the national Lebanese food and is a very popular recipe of Lebanon. The popularity of Kibbeh extends its boundary and reaches out to the countries like North Africa, Arabian Peninsula and Turkey. Lebanese dishes are generally very tasty and they are prepared very hygienically. They belong to the Mediterranean origin. The Lebanese foods usually incorporate proportionate amount of cereals, grains, vegetables and fruits. Milk and the milk products are copiously used in the Lebanese preparations. Olive oil is the preferable medium of cooking in the Lebanese food.
Lebanese Kibbeh is a tasty assortment of ground beef or lamb with a crispy crusty coating over it. Kibbeh recipe is the traditional food of Lebanon and the process of preparation has evolved throughout the years.
Ingredients for the preparation of Kibbeh:
Outer Shells:
- 11/2 cups of finely coarsed bulgur wheat
- 11/2 pound of ground beef
- 11/2 cup of chopped onions
- 3 tbs ground cumin
- 21/4 tbs salt
- 11/2 tbs ground black pepper
For Stuffing:
- 1/ 2 pound of ground beef
- 1/ 3 cup of slightly toasted pine nuts
- 3/ 4 cups chopped onions
- 1/ 2 tbs allspice
- 1/ 2 tbs ground pepper
- 1/ 4 tbs ground cinnamon
- 3/ 4 tbs salt
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Chopped parsley for decorating
Method of Preparation of Kibbeh:
Firstly place the bulgur wheat in a bowl, cover it with water and let it set for 20 minutes and then drain the excess water from it. In a bowl blend together the ingredients namely beef, onions, cumin, pepper and salt until it becomes a consistent paste. After that add the strained bulgur wheat and process it in a food processor until it becomes smooth and you can add ice water in between to the mixture.
For preparing the stuffing of the Kibbeh, cook the meat in a skillet placing in medium heat with constant stirring. Now add the onions, pepper, cinnamon, salt and all the spices and continue cooking until the mixture becomes tender. Remove from heat and then successively add the pine nuts and set it. Now make egg sized ball of the raw meat bulgur mixture and then make a hole down in the center to insert the stuffing and after that reshape the egg shaped balls. Preheat the oil to 350 degree F and fry the Kibbeh balls until they turn crispy brown. Garnish well with the chopped parsley and serve hot.
Kibbeh is really a mouth-watering delicacy of Lebanon and can be prepared easily at home anytime, as it requires simple ingredients.
