How to Make Aunt Louise's Baked Kibbeh - A Step-by-Step Guide

If you're looking for a comforting and delicious dish to add to your culinary repertoire, look no further than Aunt Louise's Baked Kibbeh. This traditional Middle Eastern dish is a labor of love, combining fragrant spices, tender ground meat, and bulgur wheat to create a hearty and satisfying meal.

Originating from Lebanon, kibbeh is a beloved dish that has found its way into the hearts and kitchens of people all over the world. While there are many variations of kibbeh, Aunt Louise's ...

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup bulgur wheat
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • ½ cup finely chopped onion, divided
  • 2 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound ground lamb, divided
  • ½ cup pine nuts
  • ¼ stick salted butter
  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes, or to taste
  • ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, or to taste

Information

  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 45 mins
  • Additional Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins
  • Servings: 8

  • Place bulgur into a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand until water is absorbed, about 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Stir 1/4 cup onion, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, basil, and pepper into softened bulgur. Add ground beef and 1/2 pound lamb; mix well. Divide mixture into two portions. Pat one portion over the bottom of a 12x7-inch baking dish.
  • Place remaining portion onto waxed paper and pat into 12x7-inch rectangle on a piece of waxed paper; set aside.
  • Cook and stir remaining 1/4 cup onion and 1/2 pound lamb in a skillet until browned, about 5 minutes. Drain excess grease from the skillet. Stir in pine nuts and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spoon over meat layer in the baking dish.
  • Invert the second meat layer over the filling; peel off and discard waxed paper. Score the top layer into diamond shapes by cutting diagonally in both directions, leaving about 3 inches between the cuts. Press a small dab of butter into the middle of each diamond.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 40 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (71 degrees C). Garnish with cherry tomatoes and mint.
  • Nutrition

    364 cal.

    • Total Fat: 23g
    • Saturated Fat: 9g
    • Cholesterol: 80mg
    • Sodium: 664mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 16g
    • Dietary Fiber: 4g
    • Total Sugars: 1g
    • Protein: 23g
    • Vitamin C: 3mg
    • Calcium: 33mg
    • Iron: 3mg
    • Potassium: 389mg