Kibbeh are addictive nuggets with an out of this world taste and texture. Crispy shell outside with a succulent meaty filling inside. Literally a meat bonanza that everyone loves.
Kibbeh recipe is an outstanding use of meat as it is simply stuffing meat with another meat. The bulgur is what makes this dish stands out from the ordinary kofta. Traditionally, its presence on the table meant only one thing: major celebration. it was otherwise too labor intensive not to mention costly.
This post has been updated from the original September 2013. Last updated January 2019.
Kibbeh
Kibbeh in all its forms, raw, fried, broiled, stuffed, baked, and vegetarian is a defining dish for the Lebanese and Syrian cuisines. It is very popular in the eastern parts of the Mediterranean. The most popular form is this one, a hearty croquette. A mixture of ground meat, onion, pine nuts and delicate spices, is stuffed in another mixture of bulgur, onion and ground meat.
Kibbie (also sometimes spelled Kibbee), is made traditionally with lamb or goat meat. Recently it has been popular to make it with beef and I have done it in the past with ground turkey as well.
Kibbeh Recipe FAQs
Kibbeh ingredients are divided into two lists. One for the shells and another for the stuffing itself. Here is what you’ll need.
Raw Kibbeh or Kibbeh Nayeh is a quintessential Lebanese dish. It ia made by kneading together ground lamb or beef, bulgur, onion, spices and cold water. Fresh meat, no fat or gristle, and sparkling clean sterile blades are a must if you will eat raw kibbeh.
You need to know the butcher and you’ll need to tell him that this is going to be eaten raw to make sure no cross contamination occurs. Of course ready packages of ground meat will not work in this kind of kibbeh.
Serve Kibbeh with tzaziki sauce, tabouli, tahini dip, or fattoush. You can also serve it with simply some slices or onion, cucumber and tomato.
Kibbeh Recipe Tips
- It is recommended to use lean ground meat, I try to go for 91-93%.
- Shaping kibbie like this needs some skill. You can simply form into a ball then re-shape it to look like a football shape. Although this is an easy and more simple way it always yields uneven shell. It will still taste delicious though.
- Freezing before frying is considered a “best practice”.
- Frying Kibbeh is a very delicate and some how complicated process. You may have the best recipe in the world but then it breaks apart in the oil or pops open. I’ve included a frying guide as detailed as possible.
- Make sure to use a large enough frying pan as the oil should cover the whole balls but still does not exceed
Kibbeh Recipe: step by step
Make the filling
- Heat oil
In a non stick pan over medium high heat, add oil and heat for a minute.
- Saute onion.
Add onion and saute for two minutes or until translucent and fragrant.
- Add ground beef
Add meat, break it apart with a spoon until it browns nicely all over.
- Season
Add the spices, season well and adjust salt according to your linking.
- Pine nuts
Add pine nuts, some people like using different kind of nuts or a combination. Pine nuts and walnuts are most common.
- Mix
Turn heat off and mix everything well until combined. Set aside to cool down.
- Make the shell
In a deep bowl combine bulgur and water.
- Rest
Mix water with bulgur, cover and let it rest for 30 minutes. You can make the filling at this time if you want.
- Mixing
In picture 3&4 above, add the rest of the shell ingredients and mix well with hands.
- Process
In a food processor, add mixture in batches and process until everything is mixed well together.
- Soft mixture
Mixture should be soft and uniformed. You can process the whole this 2-3 times until you feel everything is well combined. Some people like to process the ground meat first then add it to the bulgur and the rest of the ingredients then process again.
- Shaping kibbeh
Take a small ball, the size of a golf ball in your hand and roll.
- Poke
Hold the ball in one hand, and with the index finger of the other hand poke the ball on one side.
- Roll to widen
Roll the ball in your hand while pressing with the index finger of the other hand to make a hole and widen it as much as possible like shown above in 3 & 4.
- Stuff
Now take some of the meat stuff we already made and stuff the ball.
- Close
Close the ball by pinching the open end and roll in your hand to get the football like shape.
- Freeze
Place the kibbeh on a baking sheet liked with parchment or foil and freeze until firm.
- Fry
When you are ready to eat, heat enough oil to cover kibbeh. Use deep enough pot for frying and do not fill more than 2/3 with oil or else the oil will bubble then rise to the sides and spill all over the stove. To know if the oil is hot enough to fry kibbeh, simply dip unpolished wooden spoon or chopsticks in the oil, if it bubbles moderately like shown above then your oil is ready.
- Careful frying
Carefully add the frozen kibbeh to the oil, fry on high for 1 minute then reduce heat as directed below in the recipe. Please be careful as the oil will be hot and the kibbeh is frozen.
Now serve hot and enjoy every bite of it. It is indeed a labor intensive recipe, but trust me you will love it. This is a freezer friendly recipe and a make ahead too. Make enough and freeze for up to 3 months, take out and fry as much as you need.
Favorite to serve with
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Kibbeh Recipe
Forget about meatballs and make this Lebanese Kibbeh recipe with ground beef. A step by step guide to how to make, shape and fry kibbie like a pro.
Kibbeh
Ingredients
For the shell:
- 1 pound (454g) #1 fine bulgur wheat, unwashed.
- 1 1/2 (360mL) cup cold water.
- 1/2 pound (227g) lean ground beef or lamb. (Note1).
- 1 1/2 teaspoon (10g) salt. or to taste.
- 1/2 - 1 teaspoon black pepper.
- 1/2 cup (100g) onion, diced.
- 1/2 cup + 2Tablespoons (180mL) water.
For the filling:
- 2 Tablespoons (30mL) oil. (Note2)
- 1 cup (200g) onion, diced.
- 1 pound (454g) ground beef.
- 1 1/2 teaspoon (10g) salt.
- 1 teaspoon (3g) ground all spice.
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
- 1 1/2 teaspoon (4g) paprika.
- 1/4 -1/3 cup pine nuts optional. (Note3)
- Iced water for shaping and forming.
- Oil for frying.
Instructions
- In a deep bowl, add bulgur and pour water over, cover and let it soak for 30 minutes.
Make the filling:
- In a large skillet, over medium heat add oil and sauté onions until translucent.
- Add the ground meat and stir until it is browned. Add the seasoning, mix well.
- Turn heat off and stir in the pine nuts.
- Make the shell:
- Add the onion, ground beef, salt and pepper to the bulgur and combine well.
- Transfer the mixture to the bowl of food processor in batches, adding a couple of tablespoons of water each time. Make sure to scrap down the sides of the bowl.
- Refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes. (Note4)
Forming the Kibbeh:
- Fill a measuring cup with cold water and add some ice.
- Prepare a backing sheet and line it with parchment paper and set next to you.
- Lightly dip your hands int he cold water and take about 3 Tablespoons of the shell mixture then roll into a ball the size of a golf ball.
- Place the ball in your left hand and using the index finger of the other hand poke a small hole in one end of the ball reaching to the middle of the ball.
- Gently roll the ball into your left hand while pressing your index finger in a circular motion.
- Keep doing this until the hole is bigger make sure not to press too hard on the walls of the kibbeh so it will not break or tear. (Note 5).
- Now take about 3/4 teaspoon of the filling and fill the hole of the kibbeh, do not overstuff.
- Close the end of the kibbeh by pinching the end together, make sure to dip your fingers in the iced water every now and then. (Note 6)
- Place the kibbeh on the baking sheet and continue until the whole batch is done.
- Cover and refrigerate or freeze until firm (Note 7).
Frying the Kibbeh:
- In a deep frying pan add oil enough to cover the kibbeh when put in it.
- Heat oil on medium-high , between 355F-375F. (Note 8)
- Add frozen kibbeh, and be careful as the oil will be hot. Do not cram.
- Fry for almost 1 minute, may be a little bit more until the outside gets a nice light brown color.
- Turn heat down to 340 or medium and continue frying for 3-4 more minutes.
- Transfer the Kibbeh to a plate lined with paper towel.
- Raise heat again for 30 seconds before adding the next batch of kibbeh and fry as before.
- Continue until you are done with them all.
- Serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
I have been looking for a recipe for kibbeh for a while now. I remember having them in Dubai many times and the thought of them makes my mouth water!! I want to make these for a party, do you think I can shallow fry them the night before and just reheat in the oven?
Melanie, unfortunately no. You see Kibbeh is best eaten after being fried, it will not taste bad the next day but it is at its prime when it is freshly fried especially that you are serving it at a party.
My family loves the Kibbeh and it is something we always order at ourfavorite Lebanese restaurant. Yours look perfect 🙂
Kibbeh is very much welcomed in my family too… Thank you, I hope you will try it out.