Baked Lebanese Kibbeh

Ingredients

• •1 1/2 cups fine bulgur wheat
• •500 g ground lamb
• •250 g ground beef (medium)
• •1 medium yellow onion, grated
• •1 1/2 tsp salt
• •1 tsp allspice
• •1/2 tsp cinnamon
• •1/2 tsp black pepper
• •1/4 cup ice-cold water
• •1 medium yellow onion, finely diced (for filling)
• •250 g ground lamb (for filling)
• •1/3 cup pine nuts
• •1/2 tsp allspice (for filling)
• •1/4 tsp cinnamon (for filling)
• •3 tbsp olive oil
• •1 cup plain yogurt, for serving

Directions

1. 1Soak bulgur in cold water for 20 minutes, then drain and squeeze out excess moisture with your hands.
2. 2Combine soaked bulgur, ground lamb, ground beef, grated onion, salt, allspice, cinnamon, and pepper in a large bowl and knead firmly, adding ice water a tablespoon at a time, until the mixture is smooth and paste-like.
3. 3Make the filling: sauté diced onion in 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat until golden, add 250 g lamb and cook until browned, then stir in pine nuts, allspice, and cinnamon and cook 2 more minutes; set aside to cool.
4. 4Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and brush a 9x13-inch baking pan with 1 tbsp olive oil.
5. 5Press half the kibbeh mixture into an even layer covering the bottom of the pan, using wet hands to smooth it flat.
6. 6Spread the filling evenly over the base layer, then press the remaining kibbeh mixture on top, again using wet hands to smooth it.
7. 7Score the top into diamond shapes with a sharp knife, press a pine nut into the centre of each diamond if desired, and drizzle with remaining 1 tbsp olive oil.
8. 8Bake for 35–40 minutes until the top is deep golden brown and the edges pull away from the pan.
9. 9Rest for 10 minutes before slicing along scored lines; serve with plain yogurt.

💡 Fine bulgur (#1 grind) is essential for kibbeh dough — medium or coarse bulgur will not bind properly. Find it at Middle Eastern grocery stores or the bulk aisle of larger Canadian supermarkets.

Cook this with Miamzi 👨‍🍳

Miamzi knows what's in your kitchen — it checks this recipe against your ingredients, adds what's missing to your grocery list, plans your week, and invents new dishes from what you already have.