Kibbee Nyi Raw Kibbee Food

KIBBEE NYI (RAW KIBBEE)

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.

LEBANESE RAW KIBBEH RECIPE - MAKE KIBBEH NAYYEH AT HOME

Steps:

• Since we're going to be eating it raw, freeze the meat for 2 weeks prior to making the dish if possible in order to reduce typical raw meat contamination and bacteria. Also try to buy quality local, fresh meat whenever possible.
• Partially thaw the meat for 6 hours in the fridge prior to preparing the dish.
• Place the Bulgur in a small bowl and rinse it with cold water, then drain and squeeze to get rid of as much water as possible.
• Put the meat in a food processor along with about 5 cubes of ice and half of the cinnamon and spin it for about 3-5 minutes until it becomes very fine. Important: stop the processor every minute or so and feel the meat to ensure it's not warming up. If it is, add a bit more ice cubes and spin. Once done, set aside in a large bowl.
• To make the spice mix, put the green pepper, mint, marjoram, onion, salt, chili powder and 7-spices in the food processor and mix them well.
• Add the Bulgur, spice mix on top of the meat and knead well for a few minutes to make sure that all ingredients have integrated well.
• Immediately after the kneading, place the Kibbeh Nayyeh in a serving plate and flatten it making symmetric dents in it with the edge of a spoon for show.
• Drizzle extra virgin olive oil and fresh mint leaves on top.
• Serve cold along a side of pita bread, and a veggie plate which may include white onions, green onions, chili peppers, mint, salty chili pepper pickles etc...

KIBBEE BIL SINEEYAH (BAKED KIBBEE)

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.