Kibbee Nyi Raw Kibbee Recipes

Steps:

• Do not use purchased ground meat if you can avoid it.
• Even extra lean has too much fat in it.
• Wash bulghur and soak in hot water for about 30 minutes.
• Drain well, and squeeze dry.
• Trim fat and sinew from the meat, cut in chunks, and run through a grinder, using the finest plate.
• Grind onion and mint, and in a large bowl, thoroughly mix with meat and spices.
• Run mixture through the grinder again, and knead the olive oil into the mixture; if it feels too dry add a little water, and continue to knead.
• Refrigerate for 30 minutes for flavors to develop, adjust seasonings, and knead again to combine thoroughly.
• Mound on a shallow serving dish, pat down, and smooth the top and sides, using a little water on your hands to help.
• Coat top lightly with olive oil, or if desired, drizzle melted butter over meat, and coat evenly.
• Serve with pita bread or leaves of Romaine lettuce for scooping.
• In addition to being to being delicious as is, raw, Kibbee Nyi is the basis for many cooked kibbee dishes, a few of which will be submitted separately.

Steps:

• Soak wheat for one hour.
• Squeeze to drain.
• Brown pine nuts and onions lightly over med-low heat.
• Remove from heat.
• Combine meat, wheat, and seasonings.
• Mix and knead for approx 10 minutes (Kitchen Aid is handy for this!) Divide in half.
• Form one layer in an 8x8 buttered baking dish.
• Top with onion and pine nut mixture, spreading evenly over meat.
• Lay on top layer of meat, pressing down (this is important), and smoothing.
• Run a spatula along the outer ridge, forming a ridge for the absorption of butter.
• Dip the spatula in cold water and start make cuts the length of the pan.
• Then go back across "crosswise" forming diamond shaped pieces.
• Glaze top with 3 tbsp melted butter.
• Bake at 400°F for 20-30 minutes or until browned.
• Serve with sour cream, if desired.

Steps:

• Soak bulgur wheat in a bowl in hot tap water. Let sit 10 minutes or so, and then drain.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, add ground beef, onion, salt and cinnamon. Add the bulgur after draining. Use your hands to combine the ingredients thoroughly.
• Lightly grease a baking sheet with oil.
• Take 1/3 cup portions of meat and press into small hamburger type patties. Place on sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes, until cooked through.
• Serve with plenty of plain yogurt!

Steps:

• Since your grinder is already dirty from making the raw kibbee, you might as well grind your own meat for the stuffing, but don't grind it too fine; use the medium plate, or even the coarse one, and once through is enough.
• Brown crumbled meat in 1 Tbsp butter, stirring occasionally.
• Add onion, and saute until it is translucent.
• Brown the pine nuts in 1 Tbsp of butter until very browned, but not quite burnt.
• Add pine nuts and ketchup to meat and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Brush some melted butter on sides and bottom of a 9"x13"x2" baking pan.
• Spread half of the kibbee evenly over the bottom of the pan.
• Spread stuffing evenly over kibbee, and spread second half of kibbee over this.
• Dip hand in water and smooth out top layer.
• Before baking, cut into diamond shapes.
• Spread melted butter over top of kibbee, and sprinkle with water.
• Bake at 425oF for 35 minutes or until top is browned.
• Separate into diamond pieces, and serve hot, at room temperature, or cold, as part of a meza appetizer assortment.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400º F.
• For Mixture One: Pour boiling water over bulgar wheat, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes. Drain any excess water.
• Working in batches, use a food processor to grind the 2 lbs. of lamb into a fine paste.
• In a large bowl, combine the wheat, lamb, onion, salt and pepper. Mix well. (If mixing by hand, dip your hands in ice water to keep the meat mixture from sticking to them.).
• For Mixture Two: Heat clarified butter over medium-high heat. Add meat, onion, pine nuts, and seasoning and saute until meat is cooked through.
• Butter a 9"x13" baking pan. Spread half of Mixture One in the bottom. Spread Mixture Two over it, and press the rest of Mixture One on top. Wet your hands with ice water to keep it from sticking while you smooth out the top.
• Cut the kibbee into small diamonds or rectangles.
• Bake until meat is cooked through, around 30-45 minutes.

Steps:

• Rinse the bulgur well, then cover with cold water and soak for 20 minutes. Drain well.
• Put the drained bulgur, lamb, grated onion, cumin and cayenne in a large mixing bowl. Season with 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Mix well with your hands to distribute the seasoning. With a wooden spoon, beat in about 1/2 cup ice water. The mixture should be smooth and soft.
• Heat the olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and fry gently, stirring occasionally, until they soften, about 5 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Raise the heat and add 1/4 cup of the lamb mixture. Continue frying, allowing the meat to get crumbly and the onions to brown nicely, another 10 minutes or so. Stir in the pine nuts and taste. Let cool to room temperature.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a shallow 9-by-13-inch baking dish, then press half the remaining lamb mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan. Spread half the onion-pine nut mixture over the meat. Add the rest of the meat to the pan, patting and pressing it with wet hands to make a smooth top. If desired, score the top with a sharp paring knife to make a traditional diamond pattern at least 1/2-inch deep.
• Bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes, until the top is golden. Spread with the remaining onion-pine nut mixture. Serve warm, at room temperature or cool, with a dollop of yogurt.