Middle Eastern Comfort Food You'll Actually Make

fried kibbeh is great…but this baked version is much simpler 🇱🇧

I grew up eating kibbeh the traditional way. The fried football-shaped ones where the crispy shell is made of ground meat and bulgur wheat, and the inside is stuffed with spiced ground meat and pine nuts. They’re delicious, but they can a bit of work and a hassle to make. Between the shaping and the frying, they’re not exactly what I reach for when I need an easy weeknight dinner.

But that’s why we have baked kibbeh. It’s the same flavors I grew up with, just simplified. No frying, no fancy shaping, and it still has that layered, comforting feel. You’ve got a spiced ground beef layer on the bottom, a bulgur wheat and meat layer on top, and the whole thing bakes until crisp on the edges and tender in the center. I usually serve it with lemon garlic yogurt, fresh tabbouleh, and vermicelli rice on the side. It’s a full meal that comes together quite simply, and still feels nostalgic every time I make it.

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Time Breakdown

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Optional Sides: 20-25 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour (with sides)

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Ingredients

Minced Meat Bottom Layer

• 2 tbsp pine nuts

• 10 oz ground beef or lamb (or a 50/50 mix)

• 1 white onion, chopped

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• ½ tsp salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

• 1 tsp cumin

Bulgur Wheat Top Layer

• 200g bulgur wheat (soaked for 10 minutes)

• 1 white onion, minced

• ½ tsp black pepper

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 tbsp baharat (7 spice)

• ½ tsp paprika

• 6 oz raw ground beef

Lemon Garlic Yogurt Sauce

• 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt (avoid Greek yogurt for this)

• 1 lemon, juiced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tsp dried mint

• ½ tsp salt

Tabbouleh (Optional but recommended)

• 1 bundle fresh parsley, finely minced

• 2 long stems mint leaves, minced

• 2 Roma tomatoes, diced

• ½ medium yellow onion, minced

• ½ tsp salt

• ½ tsp sumac

• 1 tsp baharat (7 spice)

• ½ tsp black pepper

• 1 tbsp fine bulgur wheat

• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice

• ⅓ cup olive oil

Baharat (7 Spice Blend)

• ½ tbsp allspice

• ½ tbsp coriander

• ½ tsp cinnamon

• 1 tsp black pepper

• 1 tsp cumin

• ½ tsp clove

• ½ tsp nutmeg

Vermicelli Rice (Optional)

• 2 cups white rice

• 1 cup Vermicelli noodles

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• Salt to taste

• 1 tbsp Chicken bouillon (optional)

• 3 cups water