Aunt Louise's Baked Kibbeh

Make authentic baked kibbeh with this recipe from a Lebanese family. You'll love this savory meat pie made with ground beef, bulgur, and pine nuts.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 364 Calories

Ingredients

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

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Place bulgur into a large bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand until water is absorbed, about 30 minutes.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

Place remaining portion onto waxed paper and pat into 12x7-inch rectangle on a piece of waxed paper; set aside.

Step 5

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.

Step 6

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.

Step 7

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.