Raw minced lamb with burghul and spices (kibbeh nayeh)

Ingredients

• 1 white onion
• 2-3 mint sprigs 
• 500 g very fresh minced lamb 
• 135 g (¾ cup) fine burghul, washed, drained 
• ½ tsp salt 
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper 
• ½ tsp allspice 
• mint leaves, chopped, to garnish 
• extra-virgin olive oil, to garnish

Instructions

Chop half of the onion and place in a food processor with the mint sprigs and pulse a few times. Add 125 grams of the minced lamb to onion mixture and process to a paste.

Place the lamb paste, remaining minced lamb, burghul, salt, ground black pepper and allspice in a large bowl and knead the mixture with your fingers. (Keep a bowl of iced water nearby to dip your hands in while kneading to prevent the mixture sticking to them.)

Turn out kibbeh onto a large plate and flatten to about 2 cm thick.

Scatter over the mint leaves, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and serve immediately with remaining white onion sliced, tabouleh, hummus and labneh. You can eat all these elements together with Lebanese bread.

As seen in Feast magazine, Issue 5, pg162.

Photography by Peter Georgakopoulos.