Kibbeh Bil-Saniyeh / Baked Kibbeh Recipe

Kibbeh is one of Lebanon's great national dishes and until the arrival of the food processor, the meat was pounded by hand in a marble or stone mortar (jorn) with a wooden pestlem(m'daqqa). Because of the time and effort involved in its preparation, kibbeh was - and still is - a festive dish. It is a highly seasoned mixture of finely minced lamb, burghul and very finely chopped onion. When it is served raw, kibbeh is made with less burghul and a handful of crushed basil or mint leaves are added to give the meat a fresh, fragrant flavor. A little liyeh (fat from the sheep's tail) is also added to make it more velvety.

Ingredients

90g unsalted butter, plus extra to grease baking dish
60g pine nuts
500g large onions, finely chopped
200g lean minced
4 ½ tsp Adonis Kibbeh Spices
1 medium onion, peeled and quartered
500g lamb from the leg, boned, skinned, defatted and finely minced 200g fine burghul
4 ½ tsp Adonis Kibbeh Spices
Unsalted butter

Cooking instructions

Melt the butter in a deep frying pan over a medium heat. Saute the pine nuts, stirring constantly until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon onto a double layer of kitchen paper. Saute the chopped onion in the same butter until soft and transparent. Add the minced meat and cook until it loses all traces of pink. Keep mashing and stirring the meat with the back of a wooden spoon or fork so that it separates well and does not form lumps. Remove from the heat. Season with the Adonis Kibbeh Spices and salt to taste. Add the pine nuts. Mix well. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Set aside.

Put the quartered onion in a food processor and until very finely chopped. Add the minced meat, Adonis Kibbeh Spices and salt to taste and process together until smooth. Prepare a bowl of lightly salted water and have it on hand.

Wash the burghul in two or three changes of cold water. Drain well and add to the meat. Mix with your hand; dipping it every now and then in the salted water to moisten both your hand and the kibbeh. Knead until the mixture is well blended. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Grease a deep baking dish about 30x20x5 cm with a little butter. Preheat the oven to 180° C.

Divide the kibbeh in two equal parts. Moisten your hands in the salted water and pinch off a handful of kibbeh from one piece. Flatten it between your palms to a thickness of about 1 cm and place on the bottom of the baking dish, starting from one edge. Smooth it evenly with your fingers. Pinch off another handful from the same piece of kibbe. Flatten and lay next to the first piece, slightly overlapping it. Dip your fingers in water and smooth the pieces together until the joint disappears. Be sure to connect the kibbeh pieces well so that they do not come apart during cooking. Continue the above process until you have covered the bottom of the pan. Go over the whole layer with moistened fingers to even it out.

Spread the stuffing evenly over the kibbeh and make a top layer, using the other half of the kibbeh and laying it over the stuffing in the same way as with the bottom layer. You may find the top layer slightly more difficult to do as you will be laying it over the loose stuffing instead of the smooth surface of the baking dish. Do not worry. You will soon get the hang of it.

Cut the pie into quarters, then with a knife make shallow incisions to draw a geometric pattern across the top of each quarter. The decoration work is time consuming and can be omitted without affecting the taste, although the presentation will be less attractive and less traditional. Press your index finger in the middle to make a hole. Place a knob of butter over the hole and one knob of butter over each of the quarters. Insert a round-pointed knife between the edge of the kibbeh and the side of the pan and slide it all alongside the edge to detach the kibbeh from the sides of the pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the pie has shrunk and the meat is just done. Serve hot or warm with a yoghurt and cucumber salad.

Meat Crescents / Sanbusak bil-lahmeh Recipe

Makes 25-30

You can vary on the taste here by replacing the lemon juice with either vinegar, verjuice or pomegranate syrup. Each

Ingredients

150 g plain white flour
¼ tsp salt
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to brush dough
50g unsalted butter
25g pine nuts
125g lean minced lamb
¼ tsp Adonis ground cinnamon
½ tsp Adonis Seven Spices
1/8 tsp Adonis ground black pepper
2 tsp lemon juice (or your choice of variation mentioned above)
Salt to taste
Vegetable oil for frying

Cooking instructions

Mix the flour and salt in a mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the oil to the well and, with the tip of your fingers, mix the oil with the flour until well incorporated. Gradually add 90-100 ml water (it is difficult to measure the exact amount of water as it depends on the brand of flour you are using) knead until you have rough dough.

Remove the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 3 minutes. Invert the bowl over the dough and let it rest for 15 minutes. Knead for another 3 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic. Form into a ball, cover with a damp cloth and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes.

Melt the butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and saute, stirring constantly until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon onto a double layer of kitchen paper to drain of the excess fat. Cook the minced meat in the same butter, stirring and mashing it with the pack of a wooden spoon or fork so that it separates well and does not form lumps until it loses all traces of pink. Season with Adonis cinnamon, Adonis Seven Spices, Adonis ground black pepper, and salt to taste. Add the lemon juice (or vinegar, very juice or pomegranate syrup) and sauteed pine nuts. Cook for another minutes or so. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Set aside.

Divide the dough into two balls. Place one on a lightly floured surface. Flatten it slightly and sprinkle with a little flour. Roll out into a large circle, about 2 mm thick, turning over the dough regularly and sprinkling with a little flour every now and then so that it does not stick. Use a 7 cm round pastry cutter to cut the flattened pastry into as many circles as you can. Pick up the excess pastry, knead together and let it rest under the damp cloth.

Turn the circles over. Then take one and lay it on the fingers of one hand. Put a tea spoon (or less if you are making smaller crescents) of the meat filling in the middle and fold the dough over the meat, aligning the edges to form a half circles. With your free thumb and index finger, pinch the edges together into a thin flat edge, starting at one end of the half circle. Slide the filled pastry onto the tips of your fingers so that the flat edge is on the outside. Pinch the end that is furthest from you to flatten it even more and fold it towards you into a little diagonal pleat. Continue pinching and pleating the edge until you form a fluted edge (or until you form a border resembling a twisted cord)- this is done to decorate as well as to seal the pastry tightly together so that it does not open during frying. Place the finished crescents until you finish the first lot of circles.

Fill a large frying pan with enough vegetable oil to deep fry the pastries and place the pan over a medium-high heat. When the oil is hot - test with the corner of one pastry; if the oil bubbles around it, it is ready - slide in as many crescents as will fit comfortably in the pan and fry until golden brown on both sides. Remove with a slotted spoon onto several layers of kitchen paper to drain of the excess oil.

Take the oil of the heat and roll out the remaining dough. Knead the cut outs together. Cover and let rest while you make and fry more crescents. Roll out the left over dough and finish making the crescents - you should end up with 25-30 pieces. It is important you make and fry the crescents in batches so that the dough does not dry up or rise too much. As with fatayer, sambusak freeze well, but here it is best to freeze them raw and fry them frozen. Serve hot or warm.

Baba Ghannouj / Grilled Eggplant Dip Recipe

Some tips to help you produce a superior Baba Ghannouj. Grilling the eggplants over an open fire will produce the smoky flavor that is so typical of this dish, though the smoky flavor will come through to a certain extent if you cook them under the grill in your oven. It is important to let the grilled flesh drain for a while to get rid of the excess liquid; and finally, once this done, you need to mash the flesh with the back of a fork to retain texture. The dip will be too smooth if you use a food a processor.

Ingredients

6 large eggplants (about 250g each)
4 tbsp Tahini
1 garlic clove, crushed (or ¼ tsp Adonis garlic powder)
Juice of 1 lemon, or to taste
Sea salt
Fresh pomegranate seeds (Ideally the sour type)
Extra virgin olive oil

Cooking instructions

Prick the eggplants in several places with a small knife to stop them from bursting during cooking. Place them on a non-stick baking sheet and cook under a hot grill for 25 minutes on each side. The eggplants are ready when they have become very soft to the touch. By then, the skin should have become slightly charred for a smoky taste.

Remove the grilled eggplants onto a large chopping board. Cut each in half lengthways, and with a spoon, scoop out the flesh. Place the flesh in a colander to drain the excess liquid. Let it drain for a least half an hour.

Put the eggplants in a wide mixing bowl and mash with a masher or the back of a fork. Be sure not to crush them too much, as you want the dip to have texture. Add the tahini and salt to taste. Mix well. Then add the lemon juice and crushed garlic. Mix well. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Transfer the dip to a shallow serving bowl and with the back of a spoon; spread it the same way as with hummus. The garnish can be the same as that of hummus, using mint instead of parsley; or you can use pomegranate seeds, arranged in a star shape in the middle and at regular intervals along the edge. Olive oil is of course used with both garnishes.

KIBBEH (BEEF AND BULGUR WHEAT MEATBALLS) RECIPE

Middle Eastern kibbeh is a finely ground paste of bulgur, onions, and lamb or beef, which is formed into patties or balls, filled with coarsely ground, sweetly spiced meat, onions, and pine nuts, and deep-fried.

MAKES 16

Ingredients

For the Filling

1 tbsp. olive oil, plus more to garnish
1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
8 oz. ground beef sirloin
1 tsp. kosher salt
1⁄4 tsp. ground allspice
1⁄4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1⁄4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 tbsp. ground sumac, plus more to garnish

For the Shell

1 1⁄2 cups fine bulgur
1 tbsp. kosher salt
1⁄2 tsp. ground allspice
1⁄2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1⁄4 tsp. ground black pepper
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 1⁄2 lb. lamb shoulder, trimmed of all fat and sinew
Canola oil, for frying
Plain yogurt, for serving
Mint leaves, to garnish

Instructions

For the filling: Heat oil in a 12" skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and cook, stirring, until soft, about 10 minutes. Add beef, and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 7 minutes. Add salt, allspice, and cinnamon, and cook, stirring, until meat begins to brown, about 4 minutes more. Transfer to a bowl, stir in nuts and sumac, and let cool.

For the shell: Rinse bulgur, squeeze out excess water, and place in a large bowl. Add salt, allspice, cinnamon, pepper, and onion, and set aside. Grind lamb twice in a meat grinder, and add to bulgur mixture; knead mixture in bowl into a pliable paste, about 5 minutes. Cover bowl with a clean dish towel.

Shape about 1⁄4 cup of the bulgur-meat paste into a ball, moistening your hands with water as you work. Hold ball in one hand and insert index finger of other hand into center to form a hole. Shape ball into a thin-walled (about 1⁄4"-thick) oval with an opening at one end by molding ball around finger, gradually tapering closed end. Mend any cracks in shell with a moistened finger. Fill hole with 1 1⁄2 tbsp. of the filling. Moisten edges of opening, then gather edges together to seal. Gently form kibbeh into the shape of an egg, and keep moist under a clean dish towel. Repeat shaping with remaining filling and bulgur-meat paste to make 16 egg-shaped balls in all.

Pour oil to a depth of 2" into a 6-qt. Dutch oven, and heat over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer reads 375°. Working in batches, fry kibbeh until browned all over, about 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Transfer to a serving platter, and spoon some yogurt on the platter alongside the kibbeh. Drizzle oil over yogurt, and sprinkle with more sumac. Serve with mint leaves on the side.

Source: Saveur

SMOKY BABA GHANNOUJ WITH OIL-CURED BLACK OLIVES RECIPE

Mayonnaise ensures a creamy, smooth texture in this Midwestern riff on the classic Mediterranean dip by cookbook author Amy Thielen. Chopped cumin seeds add spice and a little crunch to the smoky eggplant.

MAKES 3 CUPS   1 HOUR, 10 MINUTES

Ingredients

2 medium eggplants (1 3⁄4 lbs.)
1⁄2 tsp. whole cumin seeds
1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more to garnish
1 bunch radishes, trimmed
1 large kohlrabi, trimmed
3 tbsp. mayonnaise, preferably homemade
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. kosher salt
1⁄4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Pinch of cayenne
Pinch of ground cinnamon
1 large garlic clove, finely grated
1⁄4 cup oil-cured niçoise olives, pitted and roughly chopped
Aleppo pepper, to garnish

Instructions

Heat the broiler to high. Place the eggplants on a foil-lined baking sheet and broil, turning as needed, until blackened all over and very soft, 20 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack and let the eggplant cool for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, place the cumin seeds on a cutting board and drizzle with two drops of olive oil. Chop the seeds repeatedly until coarsely ground. Using a mandoline or knife, thinly slice the radishes and kohlrabi and then place in a large bowl of ice water. Let sit until the slices begin to curl, about 10 minutes. Drain and spread the slices out on a towel to dry.

Peel and discard the charred eggplant skin and place the flesh on a cutting board. Finely chop the flesh and then scrape into a bowl. Stir in the chopped cumin along with the 1⁄4 cup of olive oil, the mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, pepper, cayenne, cinnamon, and garlic. Transfer the baba ghannouj to a serving bowl and drizzle with more olive oil. Sprinkle with the olives and Aleppo and serve with the radish and kohlrabi slices.

Source: Saveur

Chicken Shawarma Kibbeh Recipe

A chicken version (with a twist) from the beef kibbeh we all know. We added our Knorr Shawarma Marinade to make the flavour well balanced. Chef’s tip: 10% of minced lamb fat can be added for an extra moist chicken stuffing mix. View recipe below!

Ingredients

For the Dough

Bourghul, fine 350 g
Chicken Breast Mince 500 g
Onions, chopped 350 g
Mint leaves chopped 20 g
Salt 10 g
Ground black pepper 5 g
Cumin powder 5 g
Cinnamon powder 5 g

For the Filling

Knorr Corn Oil (4x5L) 520 ml
Chicken Breast Mince 500 g
Knorr Chicken Shawarma Marinade (6x750g) 20 g
Pine seeds 30 g
Knorr Mise en Place Pesto (2x340g) 5 g
Pomegranate Sauce 10 ml

Preparation

For the Dough

Wash bourghul and drain then cover and set it aside for 1 hour.

Combine in a mixing bowl the prepared bourghul, minced chicken breast meat, onion, mint, salt and spices. Mince the ingredients 3 times using the meat electric mincer (add some cold water to have soft dough if needed). Cover and set in the fridge.
For the Filling
Heat Knorr Corn Oil in a pan, add onion and cook until tender. Add the minced chicken meat and stir until cooked and brown in colour. Add the Knorr Chicken Shawarma Base, pine seeds, Knorr Mise an Place Pesto and pomegranate molasses and stir to combine well.

With wet hands, take medium sized pieces of the kibbeh dough mixture, form each portion into an oval shape, making a space in the centre by pushing your finger through from one end.

Stuff with some cooked chicken mixture, close by pressing firmly. Fry the kibbeh in hot deep oil until golden brown.

Garnish
With fresh tomato and lemon wedges, fresh parsley

Serve
Serve hot as an appetizers with green salad and fresh yogurt.

Source: Unilever Food Solutions

Grilled Kibbeh Recipe

Serves 4 Persons
Preparation Time 30 Minutes
Cook Time 20 Minutes
  
A great revisited Middle Eastern recipe prepared with a little hot sauce. It’s worth trying, check it now!

INGREDIENTS

 500 g ground meat
 250 g fine bulgur soaked in water for 30 minutes
 1tsp black pepper
 1tsp cumin
 1 halved onion
 1 tsp salt
 1 tsp cinnamon
 1 tsp dried mint
 1 tsp allspice
 Vegetable oil to grease the grill, as needed
 2 tbsp American Garden hot sauce Louisiana Style

PREPARATION

1- In a food processor, process the meat with the bulgur and onion.
2- Season with salt, black pepper, cinnamon, dried mint, all spice and cumin. Mix well until combined.
3- Knead the ingredients using hot sauce until the meat dough is homogenous.
4- Divide into medium-sized ball and shape into fingers.
5- Preheat the grill and oil it evenly.
6- Grill the kibbeh until done.

Note: Allspice is a mixture of spices and herbs widely used in the Middle Eastern cuisine. It can be prepared easily at home from different spices such as: cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, dried lime and curcuma. Use it to enrich your savory dishes!

Lebanese Mtabal Eggplant Salad Recipe

A dish of all season, refreshing in hot summer days, great companion of grills, and suitably appealing for your Christmas dinner celebration!

It is refreshing indeed, and delicious and nutritious. We love it with Lebanese Pita Bread, as a salad for grills, as a side dish or in the Mezza menu. Adopted from Easy Lebanese Recipes.

Servings 5 portions
 Prep Time  20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

2 Eggplant (medium) peeled and cut roughly
2 Fresh Tomato diced
1 Green pepper diced small
5-6 Spring onions (without the stems), sliced finely
2 cloves garlic crushed
1/2 bunch Fresh parsley chopped; leave 2 tbsp aside for garnishing

Dressing

1/2 cup Lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil extra virgin
Salt & Pepper

To Garnish (Optional)

1 tbsp tomato (small) diced
1-2 tbsp Pomegranate berries

Instructions

1. Cook the eggplant pieces in the microwave for 10 minutes. Remove and mash with a fork. Chill i n the fridge for 10 minutes while you chop your vegetables and prepare the dressing.
2. In a cup, mix the dressing ingredients.
3. Add the crushed garlic to the eggplant, and blend well with a spoon. Add the remaining vegetables, combine well, pour on the dressing and mix well without smashing the tomatoes.
4. Transfer into a serving plate, and garnish with diced tomato and chopped parsley.

Recipe Notes

Don't have a microwave?

Make few incises in the Eggplants (unpeeled), roast them in the oven, then skin them off, and mash coarsely.

Beef Mince “Sfiha” Recipe

Sfiha is an open Middle-Eastern baked pie that looks like a mini pizza and is topped with spiced beef or lamb mince.

Some of the fresh ingredients of “sfiha”, tomatoes and onions keep the mince moist, lime and mint give the mince lots of zing and complement the flavour of the spices. Adopted from The Amazing Flavours of Brazil.

Ingredients

Dough:

520g plain flour, sifted

2 tbs caster sugar

1 tsp salt

2 tsp instant dried yeast

250ml luke-warm milk

40ml extra-virgin olive oil

Topping:

700g full fat beef mince

3 tomatoes (about 400g), deseeded, roughly chopped

3 onions (about 450g), finely chopped

Juice of 2 limes

1 bunch mint, finely chopped

1 tsp ground coriander

¼ tsp of nutmeg

¼ tsp ground cloves

1 tsp chilli flakes

½ tsp ground white pepper

½ tsp cinnamon

3 tsp sumac*

1 tbs freshly ground sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Extra-virgin olive oil, to drizzle

Lime wedges, to serve

American mustard, to serve

Vegetable oil spray to grease

*Available from Middle-Eastern grocers or large supermarkets

 Instructions

1. For the dough, in a large bowl combine flour, sugar and salt. Make a well in the centre and add milk, yeast and oil. Using your hands combine all the ingredients until the mixture comes to a ball. Knead the dough for 10 minutes, make a ball and cover lightly with olive oil. Cover the bowl with a clean tea towel and set aside to prove in a warm draught-free place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

2. Pre-heat the oven 200°C, grill fan-forced. Line two large trays with baking paper. In a large bowl mix all ingredients of the topping and set aside for 15 minutes.

3. When the dough is ready make 20 balls of the size of a lime and place them on a clean bench dusted with  flour. Flatten a ball in the middle and push down sideways keeping the round shape. Spoon about 2 tbs of mince, squeeze tightly in one of your hands over a bowl (to remove excess juices) and spread the mince on top of the dough at the same time you flatten the dough to make a thin round mini-pizza shape of about 8cm diameter, leaving a little bit of crust on the edges then place it on a tray. The thinner the dough, the better the end results will be. Repeat with remaining balls.

4. Drizzle the sfihas with extra-virgin olive oil and bake in the middle shelf of the oven for 8-10 minutes or until the crusts are golden and the base is dry and crispy. Serve with lime wedges and mustard.

Makes: 20 sfihas

7 Layer Lebanese Hummus Dip Recipe

7 Layer Lebanese Hummus Dip

A fun twist on everyone’s favorite appetizer, this Middle Eastern seven-layer dip is made with creamy hummus, crunchy vegetables, toasted pine nuts and a drizzle of olive oil and za’atar.

Ingredients

1 ten-ounce container Sabra Classic Hummus
½ cup diced cucumbers
1 roma tomato - seeded and diced
¼ cup scallions - thinly sliced
2 tablespoons minced parsley
2 tablespoons pine nuts - toasted
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon za'atar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
pita chips to serve

Instructions

Spread hummus in a thin layer on a large plate or serving platter.
Sprinkle hummus with cucumbers, tomatoes, scallions, parsley and pine nuts.
Drizzle platter with olive oil, za'atar and lemon juice before serving with pita chips.

Notes
Calories do not include pita chips.

Nutrition Information
Serving size: ¼ cup Calories: 97 Fat: 8.6 g Saturated fat: 1.4 g Unsaturated fat: 7.2 g Trans fat: 0 Carbohydrates: 5.3 g Sugar: .5 g Sodium: 122 mg Fiber: 1.2 g Protein: 2.3 g Cholesterol: 0 mg

Source: The lemon Bowl

Baked Lebanese Kibbe Recipe

Baked Lebanese Kibbe

Yield 4 to 6 servings | Time 1 hour 20 minutes

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.

Ingredients

1 cup fine-grain bulgur
1 pound lamb shoulder, ground fine
¼ cup grated onion
1 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground, or 1 teaspoon ground cumin
Pinch cayenne pepper
Salt
pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for oiling the pan
2 cups sliced onions, 1/4-inch thick
½ cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
Greek-style yogurt, for serving

Preparation

1. Rinse the bulgur well, then cover with cold water and soak for 20 minutes. Drain well.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

Source: cooking.nytimes.com

Meat Sambousah Recipe

Meat Sambousah

These half-moon shaped fried appetizers are stuffed with a tasty mixture of ground meat and onions.

Preparation Time: 1 hour 20 minutes approximately
Cooking Time: 20 minutes approximately
Serves: 10 persons

All you need

For the dough:

3 cups flour
1/2 tsp.al alali Instant Yeast, dissolved in 2 tablespoons of warm water
3/4 cup warm milk prepared from al alali Full Cream Milk Powder
1/4cup warm water
1/4cup vegetable oil
1tsp. salt

For the filling:

500g ground beef
2 medium onions, grated
2 tbsps. al alali Parsley Flakes
1/4 cup raw pineseeds
3 tbsps. vegetable oil
1tsp. salt
1/2tsps. al alali Ground Black Pepper
4 cups vegetable oil for frying

Directions

To prepare the dough:

• Mix all the dough ingredients, except the water, together.
• Slowly pour the warm water, knead all ingredients dough becomes firm
• Set aside until filling is ready.

To prepare the filling:

• In a pan, heat the vegetable oil
• Add ground beef, onions and pine-seeds,add salt and al alali Ground Black Pepper.
• Mix until meat browns. Set aside
• Add parsley to the meat mixture and mix
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough flat using a rolling pin.
• Use an 8cm diameter circular pastry cutter to cut the dough into circles
• Put 2 teaspoons of filling on top of the dough, fold to cover the stuffing
• Use your fingers to make tight overlapping folds and to give the sambousah its traditional shape and design
• In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil and deep fry the sambousah until golden
• Remove and place them paper towels to absorb excess oil
• Serve hot or at room temperature and enjoy

Source: alalali

Baked kibbeh (kibbeh bil sayneeyeh) recipe

 The Hummus Recipes Kitchen (The Home of Middle Eastern Food Recipes) invites you to try Baked kibbeh (kibbeh bil sayneeyeh) Recipe.  Enjoy the good taste of Middle Eastern Food and learn how to make Baked kibbeh (kibbeh bil sayneeyeh).

Kibbeh, the national dish of Lebanon, is an emulsification of the freshest minced lamb and burghul (cracked wheat), with essential "seven spices" (baharat). In the old days, Lebanese women would pound the meat and burghul in a mortar and pestle, then knead in the spices, a process which can be excruciatingly exhausting. Kibbeh can be eaten raw (kibbeh naye). It’s similar to steak tartare and popular in Lebanon. Another common form is kibbeh qrass, whereby the kibbeh mixture is molded into small, hollowed balls, stuffed with filling and then fried. This recipe is kibbeh bil sayneeye, or baked kibbeh.

Serves 12
Preparation 25min
Cooking 1hr
Skill level Mid

By
Bethany Kehdy

Ingredients

1 large onion, quartered
1 kg minced lamb (see Note)
350 g very fine burghul, soaked in water for 1 hour, drained
¼ cup baharat or allspice (see Note)
2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp salt
olive oil, for drizzling
fattoush salad, to serve

Filling

1 tbsp ghee or olive oil
2 large onions, cut into rings
80 g pine nuts
500 g minced lamb (see note)
1 tbsp baharat or allspice (see Note)
salt and pepper, to season

Yoghurt dressing

500 g Greek-style yoghurt
60 ml (¼ cup) water
2 garlic cloves, pounded to a paste
1 large cucumber, thinly sliced
20 mint leaves, finely chopped
1 tsp lemon juice
salt, to season 

Cook's notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.
 
Instructions

Makes 4

Soaking time 1 hour

To make the yoghurt dressing, combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate until needed.

To make the filling, place a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and onions and cook for 2–3 minutes or until soft. Add the pine nuts and cook for another 2–3 minutes or until almost golden. Now add the minced lamb and cook for 7–8 minutes or until browned. Stir in the spice and season with salt and pepper.

To make the kibbeh paste, place the quartered onions in a food processor and process until almost pureed. Add the minced lamb, one-quarter at a time, and combine well. Now add the drained burghul, 1 cup at a time, and process until well combined. Add the spices and salt, and give it a final whiz, about 2-3 minutes. The result should be a smooth emulsified paste.

Preheat the oven 180˚C. Divide the kibbeh paste into 8 even portions. Lightly grease 4 x 21 cm round baking dishes and evenly spread 1 portion of the kibbeh paste over the base of each dish. Evenly spread the meat filling on top. Now cover with 1 portion of the remaining kibbeh paste, creating a final layer. Using a knife, cut diagonal lines into the top layer, creating diamond shapes, then divide into 6 even slices. Create a small hole in the centre and drizzle all over with the olive oil (this gives it a nice golden brown colour as well as adding a bit of flavour).

Pop in the oven and cook for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Alternatively, pop it under the grill for the last 6–8 minutes for an extra-crispy top layer.

Pour the yoghurt dressing over each slice and serve with fattoush salad.

Note
• Ask your butcher for lamb mince made from the leg of lamb.
• Baharat (also known as seven spices) is a Lebanese spice mixture available from Middle Eastern food shops. Or use even proportions of ground black pepper, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, coriander, cardamom and cumin.

Recipe from Dirty Kitchen Secrets by Bethany Kehdy, with photographs by Sarka Babicka. 

More from the Hummus Recipes Kitchen:

Moroccan vegetables with halloumi
Lamb and apricot kofta kebabs
Spiced koftas with lemon and houmous
Spicy Kofte
Lamb Chops with Tahini Sauce Recipe
Middle Eastern Carrot Salad Recipe 

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Smoky Eggplant & White Bean Dip with Pita Crisps Recipe

Photo: Smoky Eggplant & White Bean Dip with Pita Crisps Recipe

The Hummus Recipes Kitchen (The Home of Middle Eastern Food Recipes) invites you to try Smoky Eggplant & White Bean Dip with Pita Crisps recipe.  Enjoy the good taste of Middle Eastern Food and learn how to make Smoky Eggplant & White Bean Dip with Pita Crisps.

Serves four to six.

Yields 1-1/2 cups dip.

by Allison Ehri Kreitler from Fine Cooking
Issue 83

5 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil; more for the pan
1-1/2 lb. small eggplant (2 to 3 small), trimmed and cut in half lengthwise
3/4 tsp. plus a generous pinch kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 anchovy fillets (optional)
1 small clove garlic
1 cup canned cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
3 pitas (preferably pocketless), each cut into eight wedges
2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice; more to taste
1 Tbs. chopped fresh mint, plus 1 Tbs. small leaves for garnish
2 tsp. chopped fresh oregano
2 Tbs. pine nuts, toasted

Position a rack 4 inches from the broiler element and heat the broiler to high. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and grease lightly with oil. Rub the eggplant all over with 2 Tbs. of the oil and sprinkle the flesh side with 1/2 tsp. of the salt and the 1/4 tsp. pepper. Arrange the eggplant, flesh side down, on the baking sheet and broil until the skin is charred and the eggplant flesh is very tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, if using anchovies, mash them into a paste with the side of a chef’s knife. Roughly chop the garlic, sprinkle it with a generous pinch of kosher salt, and mash it into a paste with the side of a chef’s knife. Transfer the anchovy and garlic pastes to a food processor and add the beans, 2 Tbs. of the oil, and 1 Tbs. water. Purée until smooth.

When the eggplant is done, set it aside to cool briefly. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss the pita wedges with the remaining 1 Tbs. oil and 1/4 tsp. salt. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Lower the rack so it’s 6 inches from the broiler. Broil the pita wedges until golden brown on both sides, 1 to 2 minutes per side.

Scrape the eggplant flesh from the skin and add the flesh to the puréed beans in the food processor, along with the lemon juice, chopped mint, and oregano. Pulse briefly to form a chunky dip. Adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to taste. Serve sprinkled with the pine nuts and mint leaves, with the toasted pita crisps on the side for dipping.

Serving Suggestions

This is also great with crudités, especially bell peppers and fennel.

nutrition information (per serving):
Size : based on six servings; Calories (kcal): 270; Fat (g): 15; Fat Calories (kcal): 130; Saturated Fat (g): 2; Protein (g): 7; Monounsaturated Fat (g): 9; Carbohydrates (g): 31; Polyunsaturated Fat (g): 3; Sodium (mg): 430; Cholesterol (mg): 0; Fiber (g): 8;

Photo: Scott Phillips

More from the Hummus Recipes Kitchen:

Lemony Hummus Sandwich with Cucumber, Radish Sprouts, and Red Onion Recipe
Chicken and chickpea tabouli salad recipe
Chicken, tomato and chickpea casserole recipe
Persian-spiced fish with quinoa salad recipe
Grilled Eggplant Rolls with Feta and Olives Recipe  
Persian rice recipe    

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Hummus With Crispy Chorizo Recipe

The Hummus Recipes Kitchen (The Home of Middle Eastern Food Recipes) invites you to try Hummus With Crispy Chorizo recipe.  Enjoy the good taste of Middle Eastern Food and learn how to make Hummus With Crispy Chorizo.

Hummus and Chorizo is the perfect festive fusion. Here's how to make it in a few easy steps.

Recipe by Donna Hay from a donna hay christmas

 Ingredients

2 dried chorizo sausages, cases removed and roughly chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
500g store-bought hummus
Flatbread to serve

Method

1. Place the chorizo in a small food processor and process until finely minced.
2. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over high heat, then add the chorizo and cook, stirring frequently for 4–5 minutes or until crispy.
3. Place the hummus in a serving bowl and spoon over the chorizo and cooking oil.
4. Serve with flatbread.

More from the Hummus Recipes Kitchen:

Persian-spiced fish with quinoa salad recipe
Grilled Eggplant Rolls with Feta and Olives Recipe
Persian rice recipe
Adas Polow  
Salad-e Shirazi Recipe  
Beetroot, chickpea and feta salad recipe   

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Cumin pancake with hummus recipe

Photo: Cumin pancake with hummus recipe

The Hummus Recipes Kitchen (The Home of Middle Eastern Food Recipes) invites you to try Cumin pancake with hummus recipe.  Enjoy the good taste of Middle Eastern Food and learn how to make Cumin pancake with hummus.   

Ingredients

For the cumin pancake

50g plain flour
1 small egg
150ml 2% milk
1tbsp cumin seeds, lightly crushed
25ml sunflower oil

For the hummus

200g canned chickpeas, drained
50g tahini
juice of ½ lemon
2 cloves garlic, minced
1tsp ground cumin
20ml extra-virgin olive oil
salt
pepper
pinch of paprika, to garnish

Method

Prepare the hummus by combining the chickpeas, saving 1 tbsp for the garnish, with the tahini, lemon juice, garlic, ground cumin, extra-virgin olive oil and seasoning. Pulse until smooth then adjust the seasoning if necessary. Scrape into a serving bowl, cover and chill.

Prepare the pancake batter by sifting the flour with a pinch of salt into a mixing bowl. Add the egg and half of the milk and whisk, starting slowly, until you have a smooth, thick batter. Whisk in the rest of the milk until you have the right consistency.

Fold the cumin seeds into the batter. Add teaspoons of the sunflower oil to a small frying pan and heat over a medium heat. Fry the pancake batter, 2-3 tablespoons per pancake, making sure you tilt the pan to coat the surface as soon as you have added the batter.

Keep the cooked pancakes warm on a plate lined with aluminium foil that is big enough to wrap over the pancakes and cover them loosely.

When ready to serve, lay the pancakes back in a dry, clean frying pan set over a low heat. Cook until they are golden brown and blistered on one side.

Remove the hummus from the fridge and garnish with the whole chickpeas and a pinch of paprika. Cut the pancakes into triangles and serve alongside the hummus.

Adopted from Tesco realfood

More Middle Eastern Recipes:

Griddled wholemeal pitta with homemade hummus recipe
Smoky Chipotle Hummus Recipe
Jalapeno Hummus
Black Bean Hummus
Hummus salad dip
Layered houmous, tabbouleh & feta picnic bowl 

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Griddled wholemeal pitta with homemade hummus recipe

Photo: Griddled wholemeal pitta with homemade hummus recipe

The Hummus Recipes Kitchen (The Home of Middle Eastern Food Recipes) invites you to try Griddled wholemeal pitta with homemade hummus recipe.  Enjoy the good taste of Middle Eastern Food and learn how to make Griddled wholemeal pitta with homemade hummus.   

Takes: 5 mins to prepare and 5 mins to cook
Serves: 4

Ingredients

410g can chickpeas, drained
1 clove garlic, chopped
100g tahini (puréed sesame seeds)
50ml cold pressed rapeseed oil
squeeze lemon juice
8 wholemeal pitta breads

Method

Place the chickpeas, garlic and tahini in a food processor and blend. Gradually blend in the oil, lemon juice and 75ml water to give a smooth paste. Season to taste.

Griddle the pitta breads for 1-2 minutes each side until golden and toasted. Serve with the hummus.

Cook’s tip

Cut the griddled pittas into strips and serve with vegetable crudités for a buffet.

More Middle Eastern Recipes:

Smoky Chipotle Hummus Recipe
Jalapeno Hummus  
Black Bean Hummus
Hummus salad dip
Layered houmous, tabbouleh & feta picnic bowl
Healthy homemade houmous 

Adopted from Tesco Realfood

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Sambousik Jebneh Recipe

Photo: Sambousik Jebneh Recipe

Ingredients:

5 cups all purpose plain flour
1 ½ cups lukewarm water
2 tbsp salt
2 tbsp Sugar
vegetable oil for deep frying
1 cup oil

Cheese Filling
14 oz white cheese (Ikawi Altishiki)
¼ cup finely chopped fresh Parsley
¼ tspn ground cayenne pepper

Directions

1.Prepare Basic Dough.
2.Cover and leave aside for 1 hour.
3.Cheese filling: Mix ingredients and put aside.
4.Divide dough into walnut-size balls. Roll out to form circles (8 cm diameter).
5.Fill circles with Cheese. following this way: Put filling on one side of circle.
6.Fold over one end to make semi-circles.
7.Press edges with fingers.
8.Fry in 1 cup of vegetable oil over medium heat. Brown both sides.
9.Serve hot. 

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Moroccan briouats recipe

Photo: Moroccan briouats recipe

To Prep 0:25
To Cook 0:30
INGREDIENTS 14
DIFFICULTY CAPABLE COOKS
MAKES 30

Ingredients

1/3 cup (55g) pistachio kernels
500g lamb or beef mince
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped coriander
2 tsp sweet paprika
1 tsp cinnamon, extra for dusting
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp hot paprika
Salt & freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 eggs
15 sheets filo pastry
80g butter, melted
Extra vegetable oil for frying Method
 
Preparation

Step 1
Blanch pistachio kernels in a saucepan of boiling water. Drain then using a clean tea towel, rub to remove skins. Roughly chop. In a bowl combine mince, onion, pistachios, coriander, spices and season well with salt and pepper. Mix well.

Step 2
Heat oil in a large frying pan over high heat, add mince mixture. Cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally until meat is brown. Add one egg at a time, stir, cook for 1-2 minutes or until egg scrambles through the mixture. Remove from heat and place in a bowl. Allow to cool slightly.

Step 3
Lay one sheet of pastry short edge facing towards you. Cut in half lengthways, so you have 2 long strips. Brush each with melted butter. Place 1 tbs of mince mixture along short edge facing you. Carefully roll pastry, tucking in sides to form a tight cigar shape. Towards the end of rolling, brush edge of pastry with butter and seal. Place seam side down on a tray. Continue with remaining pastry. Work quickly so pastry does not dry out.

Step 4
Fill a deep saucepan one-third full with vegetable oil. Using a thermometer heat oil to 190°C. Cook briouats, 4 at a time, for 3 minutes, turning regularly until crisp and golden brown. Drain on paper towel. Dust with cinnamon and serve warm with mint tea.

More Recipes from the Hummus Blog:

Moroccan lamb pan-fry
Lemon and oregano lamb kebab
Spicy chicken kebabs
Date Bake  
Creamy Semolina Pudding  
Lebanese cream slice   

Save and share Moroccan briouats recipe 

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