Tags
cooking and baking, coronavirus quarantine, keeping busy, Kibbeh, Kibe, quibe, tabbouleh, tabule, thinking positive, waiting for miracles
“Humor keeps us alive. Humor and food. Don’t forget food. You can go a week without laughing.” -―
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.”-―
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.”―
kindredspirit23 said:
Like your quotes. Never thought the producer, creator,director (one) of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and, I think, Firefly would have such great thoughts over things like food and love.
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A Star on the Forehead said:
Hi Scott,
I hope all is doing as well as possible over there.
I was surprised with the quote also 🙂
Blessings! ♥♥
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brilliantviewpoint said:
That looks delicious and very easy to make. I’ve never used bulgar wheat before. Seems almost like meatballs, but football shaped and less ingredients.
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A Star on the Forehead said:
It is best fried, but it came out delicious anyway.
The Tabbouleh salad is also delicious.
Blessings! ♥♥
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joliesattic said:
Sounds and looks delicious!
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A Star on the Forehead said:
It was yummy!
Blessings! ♥♥
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mincs1 said:
You can never go wrong with cooking/baking foods that remind you of home or favorite memories 🙂
I also enjoyed the quotes you chose for your post!
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A Star on the Forehead said:
Indeed it has been comforting recreating some foods of my childhood.
Thank you and blessings! 🙏❤
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dfolstad58 said:
Thanks for sharing, I can understand why the Lebanese lamb version would be much different. I would love to compare yours to the deep fried version. 👍
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A Star on the Forehead said:
Deep fried is absolutely delicious. Let’s face it, anything deep fried often is. But the way I baked it it was surprisingly delicious.
Blessings!🤗❤
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utesmile said:
That is great, I don’t know this at all. I made chocolate muffins instead! Went down a treat! 🙂
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A Star on the Forehead said:
I love chocolate muffin. Actually I love anything chocolate, baked goods, pastries.
Do you have an easy recipe for scones? I love them.
Blessings! 😘
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utesmile said:
My sister does scones, they are great. I have never done them, sorry, no recipe here. My next thing is chocolate brownies, want to try them. 🙂
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A Star on the Forehead said:
I love brownies. Maybe I will try making some.
Be safe, blessings! 🙂
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djdfr said:
Your recipe looks really good.
I don’t know about going a week without laughing, that does not sound good. I have gone a week without eating, that is possible.
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A Star on the Forehead said:
One week without eating? It is possible, but I cannot do it. I think I did almost a whole day once, but the headache I got was awful.
Blessings to you! ♥♥
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Radhika Iyer said:
This looks absolutely delicious!! Hope you’re doing well! Take care!
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A Star on the Forehead said:
Hi Radhika
I am well, hoping this passes quickly.
Thank you and take care!
Blessings! 🙂 ♥♥
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Cassa Bassa said:
Oh you are making my tummy rumbling
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A Star on the Forehead said:
sorry 🙂
Just giving you some ideas.
Blessings! ♥♥
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Cassa Bassa said:
😀😋
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throughrosetintedglasses54 said:
Looks really tasty, I might try it.
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A Star on the Forehead said:
If you do try let me know if you liked it.
There are different versions online.
Wishing you a blessed week ahead! 🙂 ♥♥
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Caffe said:
Wow, looks tasty!!:-)
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A Star on the Forehead said:
It is 🙂
Be safe and be blessed! ♥♥
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Caffe said:
Thank you, you too!!
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A Star on the Forehead said:
♥♥
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jonicaggiano said:
Boy that looks amazing. Thank you for this wonderful recipe and the pictures as well. I love it when you can see the ingredient, see how they are cooked and the finale. Beautiful dish. Nice post I am going to make this for my husband. Stay safe, healthy and be blessed. Love to you and your loving family. 💕🤗 Joni
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A Star on the Forehead said:
Hi Joni,
I see some cooking/baking blogs and they an amazing job with the pictures and recipe. I tried 🙂 I am glad that you like.
I hope that your husband enjoys it. Thank you!
Be safe and be blessed! ♥♥
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jonicaggiano said:
You too my friend. 💕🙏😘
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herthoughts said:
Looks interesting
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A Star on the Forehead said:
🙂 I probably would have said the same thing if I hadn’t grown up eating it 🙂
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Farida Hakim said:
Kibbe is so good!! I often make tabboule also, together with hummus and labneh… they are my favourite dishes! 🙂
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A Star on the Forehead said:
Hi Farida
Kibbe and tabboule are my favorites, but for some reason I have never acquired the taste for chick peas and hummus.
Blessings to you! ♥♥
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Farida Hakim said:
Thanks. Blessings to you too 🙂
Do you add the original tahine to your recipe? That makes the difference!
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A Star on the Forehead said:
No, I don’t even know what tahine is 😦
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Farida Hakim said:
It’s a sesame seed cream (very dense) and it really makes hummus delicious
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A Star on the Forehead said:
I never acquired the taste for sesame and chick peas, so I don’t think hummus is for me. 😦
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Farida Hakim said:
😉
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Leif Price said:
Mmmm, cheers for this tasty recipe!
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