Lebanese Kibbeh Croquettes (Printable)

Crispy golden croquettes with spiced ground meat and bulgur, ideal for a flavorful appetizer or main dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Kibbeh Dough

01 - 1 cup fine bulgur wheat
02 - 1.1 lbs lean ground beef or lamb
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 1 tsp salt
05 - 1 tsp ground allspice
06 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
07 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
08 - 2 tbsp cold water, as needed

→ Filling

09 - 9 oz ground beef or lamb
10 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
11 - 1/2 cup pine nuts
12 - 1 tbsp olive oil
13 - 1/2 tsp ground allspice
14 - 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
15 - 1/2 tsp salt
16 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ For Frying or Baking

17 - Vegetable oil, about 2 cups for frying
18 - Olive oil for brushing if baking

# Directions:

01 - Rinse bulgur with cold water and drain thoroughly. Let rest for 10 minutes until softened.
02 - In a large bowl, combine softened bulgur, ground meat, chopped onion, salt, allspice, cinnamon, and black pepper. Knead, adding cold water as needed, until smooth and cohesive. Cover and refrigerate.
03 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions until softened, about 3 minutes. Add ground meat and cook until browned, breaking up lumps.
04 - Stir in pine nuts, allspice, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Cook 3-4 minutes until nuts are golden. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
05 - Moisten hands and take a golf ball–sized portion of dough. Flatten into a thin oval shell. Place 1–2 teaspoons of filling in center. Seal edges and shape into a torpedo form.
06 - Continue shaping remaining dough and filling until all is used.
07 - Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan to 350°F. Fry kibbeh in batches 4-5 minutes until deep golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
08 - Preheat oven to 390°F. Arrange kibbeh on parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with olive oil. Bake 25-30 minutes, turning halfway, until crisp and golden.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The contrast between the crispy, shattering exterior and the juicy, spiced meat filling feels like a small celebration in every bite.
  • Once you master shaping, you can make a whole batch in under an hour, making it perfect for unexpected guests or meal prep.
  • It freezes beautifully, so you can fry or bake straight from frozen whenever the craving hits.
02 -
  • Wet hands are non-negotiable when shaping—dry hands will cause the dough to crack and your filling will leak out during cooking.
  • Don't skip the cooling step for the filling; warm filling will soften your seal and make shaping nearly impossible.
  • The dough should feel slightly sticky, almost like wet play-dough; if it's too dry, add cold water one teaspoon at a time.
03 -
  • Keep your hands and all tools slightly damp but not dripping wet—this is the secret to smooth shaping and sealed edges.
  • If you're batch-frying, let the oil temperature recover between batches; dropping cold kibbeh into oil that's dropped below 350°F results in oil-soaked rather than crispy results.
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