This recipe for Kibbeh balls is straightforward, scrumptious and authentically Lebanese. These Lebanese kibbeh balls are filled with pine nuts and meat, formed after which completely fried for the most effective kibbeh balls recipes ever!
Totally different Lebanese Kibbeh Recipes
When speaking about Lebanese meals, I am unsure something will get any extra conventional than these Lebanese fried kibbeh balls. It’s true that kibbeh (additionally spelled kibbi, kibby, and kibbe) is the nationwide dish of Lebanon, however there are a number of other ways to organize it.
There’s kibbeh nayeh, which is consumed uncooked (sure, fully uncooked), and there may be Kibbeh Bil Sanieh, which is a layered kibbeh dish that’s baked within the oven. Recipes are in these hyperlinks. Nevertheless, in the present day we’re going to discuss kibbeh balls recipe, which is mainly a Center Japanese meatball.
Soar to:
Fried kibbi balls go deep into the recesses of my childhood reminiscences. There’s even a music that I keep in mind my Sittie (grandma) singing to me about Kibbeh balls that had hand motions to associate with it. It is partly in Arabic and partly in English from my reminiscence, and it goes one thing like this…
Kibbeh kah-buy-bee one, two, three. Make one for child and make one for me.
Arabic nursery rhyme
I actually don’t know if it is a common nursery rhyme, or if it was one thing my Sittie made as much as relax right here grandbabies. If you recognize this one, please remark under! I might love to search out out extra! However anyway, I digress…
Origins
Kibbeh balls originated within the Center East and kibbeh, in numerous types and preparations, is taken into account the nationwide dish of Lebanon.
Wish to learn extra about Lebanese meals? Try this text —> The Ultimate Guide to Lebanese Cuisine
🥘 Components
- 1.5 lbs extraordinarily lean floor beef
- 2 yellow onions
- cracked wheat (yellow bulgur #1) *see observe under
- dried basil
- contemporary mint leaves or dried mint
- toasted pine nuts
- butter or ghee
- salt
- floor black pepper
- cinnamon
- mild tasting oil for frying
There are 2 totally different elements to this recipe, the kibbeh meat combination and the stuffing. The stuffing is known as hashweh and is utilized in a number of different Lebanese recipes as nicely.
Word*- For the kibbeh mince, it is extremely essential to have high-quality bulgur wheat (cracked wheat). I discover it at my native Mediterranean retailer and it isn’t costly. Right here is a few right here on Amazon. I all the time get #1 fine bulgur, you do not need coarse bulgur for this recipe. Some individuals use pink bulgur, nonetheless our household has all the time used yellow. It is actually as much as you private preferences.
Is there a great substitute for bulgur wheat in kibbeh? You should utilize cooked quinoa in kibbeh, nonetheless be suggested that it’ll change the feel fairly a bit. If you actually need to make kibbeh gluten free, this can be your only option.
🔪 Directions
The very first thing you might want to do is to measure out your bulgur and soak it in water. It have to be soaked in water for about half-hour earlier than placing it into the kibbeh dough. ⅔ of a cup of bulgur needs to be soaked in about ¾ cup of water.
Whereas the cracked wheat is soaking, it is time to make the kibbeh stuffing. Take ½ lb. lean floor beef or floor sirloin, together with ¼ cup of toasted pine nuts (see how to toast pine nuts), butter or ghee, 1 chopped yellow onion, salt pepper and cinnamon and put it in a pan.
Over medium warmth, brown the meat and different components collectively till fully cooked via, breaking the meat aside because it cooks. If there may be any grease within the meat, ensure that to empty it fully. Set it apart to chill
It’s common for some Lebanese households to make use of Lebanese 7 spices (or baharat seasoning) of their recipes as a substitute of cinnamon. Be at liberty to try this. Our household makes use of floor cinnamon for many recipes.
Now again to the kibbeh meat… In a meals processor, add 1 yellow onion quartered and course of it till it’s mainly liquified (if utilizing contemporary mint leaves, add them additionally). Add 1 lb. of the uncooked floor beef (or lamb). The meat needs to be fully freed from all fats and gristle, it’s your decision a to ask a butcher to grind some for you.
Pulse the meat with the onions within the meals processor just some occasions till simply mixed. You do not need to over work it or heat it up in any respect. I extremely suggest this Cuisinart food processor. It’s my favourite and so they final endlessly!
Switch the meat combination to a big mixing bowl. Be sure the cracked wheat has soaked up all the water. If there may be any extra water, dump it out. Add the cracked wheat to the blending bowl together with the salt, pepper, cinnamon, basil and dried mint.
Dip your fingers into ice water and blend the components collectively by hand. It is crucial that the meat stays chilly. As soon as it’s combined, cowl and put it within the fridge for 20 minutes. It is simpler to work with the meat when it’s chilly.
Forming kibbeh balls
There are 2 totally different strategies for making kibbeh balls. Now these are usually not conventional spherical meatballs. Genuine Lebanese Kibbeh balls are literally within the form of footballs.. like American footballs. Why? I do not know! They simply are!
You can also make them by hand (my grandma did it higher than me, however I strive anyway) or you can also make it with a kibbeh mould.
By hand
Take among the chilly meat in your hand and make it into an oval or a ball. Press a complete within the center and put a teaspoon of the kibbeh filling inside. Shut the ball up and make it right into a soccer form.
This takes observe and time to grasp it. I like the style of kibbeh balls, however at any time when I form kibbeh by hand, the do not look great. Since it’s somewhat time consuming, I go for making it by the strategy under. You possibly can thank me later!
With a kibbeh ball maker
This simply could be the most effective kitchen instrument I’ve buy within the final yr. I actually adore it. I’m not my Sittie (grandmother), so I haven’t got the endurance or the time to make kibbeh by hand. That is why this kibbeh mold has turn out to be my buddy. Purchase it! It is price each penny and it is not that costly. You possibly can see my full assessment and learn how to use it right here —> “How to Use a Kibbeh Mold”
To make use of it, you have to 3 items of parchment paper. Place a number of tablespoons of the kibbeh meat into the parchment lined wells on all 18 wells. Put one other piece of parchment paper excessive of the meat and take the opposite plastic mould and press down excessive of the mould, creating a spot for the filling to go.
Fastidiously peel off the highest layer of parchment paper. Place about 1 tablespoon or so of the hashweh filling in every of the 9 kibbeh balls on one facet of the tray.
Fastidiously shut the kibbeh maker collectively, urgent it down arduous in order that all the kibbeh balls shut collectively. There will probably be some extra meat across the edges, that’s high-quality. Open it up and punctiliously take away the kibbeh balls from the mould and parchment paper.
Place the fashioned kibbeh balls onto a baking sheet and place them within the freezer for at the very least 20 minutes earlier than frying. At this level you’ll be able to freeze them fully if you want and fry them at one other time altogether.
⏲️ Frying time
These Lebanese meatballs are finest when they’re deep fried. You possibly can air fry them, if you’re simply frying 4-5 kibbeh balls and if they’re fully frozen. That’s about the one time they need to be air fried.
In a 2 quart saucepan or a deep fryer, warmth some vegetable or canola oil up. Do a take a look at fry to see if the oil is scorching sufficient. Fastidiously place 4-5 kibbeh balls within the scorching oil and fry for 3-4 minutes till deep golden brown. With a slotted spoon, take away the fried kibbeh from the new oil and place them on paper towels to empty.
Proceed with the remainder of the kibbeh till they’re all fried.
Lebanese fried kibbeh needs to be sort of crispy on the surface and juicy on the within.
💭 Prime tip
- At all times ensure that the meatballs are chilly while you go to fry it! It’s so a lot simpler to work with chilly kibbeh. It additionally works nice if they’re fully frozen.
- Be sure the oil is scorching sufficient by doing a “take a look at fry” of 1 kibbeh ball
🥗 Aspect dishes
Sometimes, fried kibbeh is served with entire milk plain yogurt or with labneh, which is a thick Lebanese yogurt. I extremely suggest serving them with Lebanese Vermicelli Rice and a few homemade pita bread! If you’d like one other Lebanese dish to serve with it, Lebanese Chicken and Rice is all the time a great one. additionally!
It is rather conventional to serve Kibbeh balls with yogurt or Labneh. I personally love consuming it with this Mint Yogurt Sauce recipe.
Storage
So are you able to freeze Lebanese kibbeh balls? Sure! I’m an enormous fan of freezing kibbeh balls. You possibly can freeze the kibbeh meat (pre-cooked) and pull it out later to make the kibbeh balls, or you’ll be able to freeze the kibbeh balls on a tray after making them (advisable).
As soon as they’re fully frozen, you’ll be able to take away them from the tray and place them in an hermetic container or in a freezer bag for as much as 3 months.
📖 Variations
Tips on how to fry frozen kibbeh balls:
You possibly can place frozen kibbeh balls into an air fryer on 425 F for about quarter-hour or till golden brown. I counsel solely frying 4-5 balls within the airfryer at a time.
You possibly can simply deep fry kibbeh balls both from fully frozen, or partially thawed. If you happen to fry them whereas frozee, add a number of minutes of frying time.
Are you able to bake them?
I don’t suggest baking kibbeh balls in any respect. They don’t prove the identical while you bake them. If you’d like baked kibbeh, I like to recommend following my baked kibbeh recipe and it will likely be a lot much less work, since you will not be forming the balls.
Reheating directions
Kibbeh balls may be reheated in a microwave, or for finest texture, reheat it in an air fryer till scorching.
🍽 Gear
I’ve all the time extremely advisable the Cuisinart Food Processor for this recipe and for a lot of others. For this explicit recipe, a meals processor is crucial to getting the suitable consistency. If you do not have one, try my affiliate hyperlink: Cuisinart Food Processor
I additionally extremely suggest utilizing a plastic kibbeh ball maker to kind excellent kibbeh balls. Affiliate hyperlink: Kibbeh Ball Maker
Different common recipes from A Pinch Of Journey
Store kitchen merchandise from this text
📖 Recipe
Fried Kibbeh Balls (Lebanese)
This recipe for Kibbeh balls is straightforward, scrumptious and authentically Lebanese. These Lebanese kibbeh balls are filled with pine nuts and meat, formed after which completely fried for the most effective kibbeh balls recipes ever!
Components
- 1 lb lean floor beef floor spherical if attainable
- ⅔ cups bulgur wheat (high-quality yellow cracked wheat)
- ¾ cup water
- 1 yellow onion
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ¼ teaspoon floor black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon floor cinnamon heaping
- ½ teaspoons dried basil
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried mint leaf
For the filling
- ½ lb floor beef
- ¼ cup toasted pine nuts
- 2 tablespoosn butter or ghee
- 1 yellow onion diced
- ⅛ teaspoon floor cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Directions
-
Start by soaking the cracked wheat in about ¾ cup of chilly water. Let it soak for about half-hour. Drain off any extra water earlier than utilizing (if any).
-
Take a yellow onion and quarter it and put it right into a meals processor. Pulse it till it practically turns right into a liquid. You don’t want any chunks of onions, ensure that it is extremely finely floor.
-
Add 1 pound of lean floor beef to the meals processor. Pulse it a number of occasions till it combines fully with the onions. Don’t over course of. You do not need it get heat or lose its pink shade.
-
Take away meat combination into a big mixing bowl and add the soaked bulgur wheat, salt, pepper, cinnamon, mint, and basil. Combine it by hand till mixed. Cowl with plastic and place it within the fridge.
For the stuffing
-
In a big skillet, add the remaining ½ pound of floor beef, toasted pine nuts, diced onions, butter, salt, pepper and cinnamon. Brown collectively and break aside the meat till it’s cooked via.
-
Drain off any extra grease and put aside to chill.
Forming kibbeh balls
-
Be sure you are working with chilly kibbeh meat and kind a ball concerning the dimension of a ping pong ball. Press it down within the center to create a spot to place the filling.
-
stuff about 1 tablespoon of the cooked filling contained in the kibbeh ball and punctiliously pinch the kibbeh ball closed. It ought to seem like slightly soccer.
-
I personally want to make use of a plastic kibbeh mould to make kibbeh. It saves soooo a lot time and so they prove excellent. See above publish for extra particulars
-
At this level you’ll be able to freeze the kibbeh balls on a baking sheet, then switch to a plastic bag, if you wish to freeze it. If you wish to fry it straight away, place it within the fridge for about half-hour earlier than frying.
-
In a deep fryer or in a saucepan, warmth a impartial frying oil up over medium warmth.
-
Do a take a look at fry of some kibbeh meat to see whether it is scorching sufficient. If it sizzles it’s prepared. Fry about 4-5 kibbeh balls at a time for 4-5 minutes till deep golden brown on the surface.
-
With a slotted spoon, take away the kibbeh and put it on paper towels to empty it from the grease.
-
Proceed the frying course of till all the kibbeh is fried. Serve and revel in!
