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Kibbeh Nayyeh.
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5 from 19 votes

Kibbeh Nayyeh

Try my authentic Kibbeh Nayyeh recipe - a traditional Lebanese dish with raw meat, bulgur, herbs, onion and spices made for special occasions
Prep Time25 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Cuisine: Lebanese
Servings: 12 servings
Author: Yumna Jawad

Ingredients

  • 1 cup fine #1 bulgur wheat
  • 1 cup water plus more for shaping
  • 1 pound 100% lean ground beef
  • 1 red pepper seeded
  • 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 small onion quartered
  • ¼ cup kamouneh spice mixture
  • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves packed
  • ¼ cup fresh mint packed, plus more for serving
  • Olive oil for serving

Instructions

  • Place the bulgur and water in a small bowl and all the bulgur to soak for 15 minutes. The water should all be absorbed. Fluff the bulgur with a fork
  • Place the beef, red pepper, butter and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Blend until the meat forms a dough ball, stopping to scrape down the food processor as needed, about 5 minutes. Remove the mixture from the food processor and place it in a large shallow bowl in the fridge while you prepare the kamouneh mixture.
  • In the same food processor used to make the meat paste, add the soaked bulgur, onion, kamouneh spice, basil, mint and. Blend until well combined.
  • Transfer the bulgur kamouneh mixture on top of the meat paste, wet your hands with cold water and knead the kamouneh mixture into the beef until well combined. Continue to add water to your hands while kneading until everything is well combined and smooth to form the kibbeh, about 5 minutes.
  • Transfer the kibbeh to a serving dish and spread it out to cover the surface of the plate. You can use a knife or fork to make designs across the kibbeh.
  • Garnish it with fresh mint, drizzle olive oil and serve with pita bread.

Notes

Top Tip: Buy the meat the same day you make the recipe. Because the beef is raw, it's important for it to be fresh. Avoid buying it from a grocery store and go directly to a butcher you trust.
Storage: Kibbeh Nayyeh should be consumed within 24 hours and is not recommended to make ahead of time or store leftovers. If you do have leftovers, cook the beef first.
Freezing: I don't recommend freezing Kibbeh Nayyeh. Beef should be cooked after thawing, as it wouldn't be as good or safe to eat after freezing and thawing.

Nutrition

Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 412mg | Potassium: 219mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 495IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

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