“Humor keeps us alive. Humor and food. Don’t forget food. You can go a week without laughing.” -― Joss Whedon

One of my favorite foods is kibbeh (quibe or kibe in Portuguses).  I used to eat it every chance I got when I lived in Brazil. You can find it in any bar or restaurant there. Here in NY I rarely eat it unless I go to a Brazilian Restaurant.

Kibbeh is a Middle Eastern dish.  A friend, knowing I love it, made it for me Lebanese style since her family is Lebanese. Unfortunately I didn’t like it.  She made it with lamb and it had a lot of nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and cloves.  I don’t eat lamb and those spices are too much for me.  In Brazil it is made with ground beef and it doesn’t include those spices.   

I use to make it often, but for some reason or another I haven’t made it over 10 years.  A month ago I bought wheat to give to a friend and accidentally over-ordered. With the quarantine in mind and with people over buying I decided that I would not do that.  I live across the street from a market, so I am buying what I need for one week and I am going to use all the foods in my pantry before buying more. 

Yesterday I decided to use the wheat and make Kibbeh. The way I make it is very easy.

I soaked 500 grams of bulgur/cracked wheat in cold water.  After 2 hours I squeezed the water out and mixed the same amount of meat. I added finely chopped garlic, chives, parsley, mint, salt and pepper.  I also add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Above are the ingredients and below is the mixture.  Most people will mix all the ingredients and chop them in a food processor.  I don’t.  I mix and chop the greens by hand.  I like to see and taste the larger pieces.   

I love to really taste the greens , specially the mint so I put a lot of it but be careful with it not to overdo it and have it come out tasting like a tic-tac mint or mouth-wash. 

“There is no love sincerer than the love of food.”-― George Bernard Shaw

It can be filled with catupiry cheese ( Brazilian soft cheese)or with sauteed grounded beef. I don’t fill it with anything.  Mold it in the shape of footballs. 

It is normally deep fried but I wanted to be a bit healthier and I didn’t want to get my small apartment stinking of fried oil, so I drizzled with olive oil and baked for 10 minutes 400 degrees.

There is a recipe specifically for making it baked, but I just chose to make the recipe used for frying.  I like to eat with a squeezed lime on it.  But it can be served with plain yogurt or some other dip.

I also love to make tabbouleh – a delicious salad with mint, tomatoes and cucumber.

It came out so delicious, soft and moist on the inside and crunchy on the outside.  My sister, that can be my worst critic, loved it.

Keep busy, keep happy, keep doing!

“Write it. Shoot it. Publish it. Crochet it, sauté it, whatever. MAKE.”― Joss Whedon