A New Take On Traditional Kibbeh

WORDS:: Chyka Keebaugh

PHOTOS:: Lisa Atkinson

Kibbeh is the national dish of Lebanon. It is a delicious combination of the freshest minced lamb and burghul (cracked wheat), with essential "seven spices"... serve it with some warm pita and mint tea. Delish!

Open kibbeh, ingredients...

• 125g fine bulgar wheat
• 90ml olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped
• 1 green chilli, finely chopped
• 350g minced lamb
• 1 tsp ground allspice
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 2 tbsp roughly chopped coriander
• 60g pine nuts
• 3 tbsp roughly chopped flat leaf parsley
• 2 tbsp self-raising flour, plus a little extra if needed
• 50g light tahini paste
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp sumac
• salt and black pepper

 

Method ::

1. Preheat the oven to 200˚C/180˚C Fan/Gas Mark 6. Line a 20cm loose-bottomed or spring-form cake tin with greaseproof paper.
2. Place the bulgar in a large bowl and cover it with 200ml if water. Leave for 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan. Saute the garlic, onion and chilli on a medium-high heat until they are completely soft. Remove everything from the pan, return it to high heat and add the lamb. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring continuously, until brown.
4. Return the onion mixture to the pan and add the spices, coriander, ¼ a teaspoon of salt, a generous grind of black pepper and most of the pine nuts and parsley, leaving some aside. Cook for a couple of minutes, remove from the heat, taste and adjust the seasoning.
5. Check the bulgar to see if all the water has been absorbed. Strain to remove and remaining liquid. Add the flour, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, ¼ teaspoon of salt and a pinch of black pepper and use your hands to work into a pliable mixture that just holds together; add a little bit more flour if the mixture is very sticky. Push firmly into the base of the tin so that it is compacted and levelled. Spread the lamb mixture evenly on top and press it down a little. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the meat is quite a dark brown and very hot.
6. While you wait, whisk together the tahini paste with the lemon juice, 50ml of water and a pinch of salt. You are after a very think, yet pourable sauce. If needed, add a tiny amount of extra water.
7. Remove the kibbeh cake from the over, spread the tahini sauce evenly on top, sprinkle with the reserved pine nuts and chopped parsley, and return to the oven immediately. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the tahini is just setting and has taken on a little bit of colour, and the pine nuts are golden.
8. Remove from the oven and leave to cool down until warm or at room temperature. Before serving, sprinkle the top with the sumac and drizzle of olive oil. Carefully remove the sides of the tin and cut the kibbeh into slices. Lift them gently so they don’t break.

Recipe Credit:  from Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi, published by Ebury Press.