Middle Eastern Kibbeh Pitas Recipes

Steps:

• 1. Soak 1/2 cup of fine cracked wheat in a bowl of water which covers the wheat for 30 to 45 minutes. Take swollen wheat by the handfuls and squeeze out excess water and place on paper towel lined tray. Set aside
• 2. Place ground beef (purchased eye of the round or similar roast with all fat cut off and ground twice. Ask the butcher to do this for you) in a bowl.
• 3. Puree 1 medium onion in food processor. Add to beef. Add allspice, cinnamon, ground mint leaves and salt and pepper to taste. Add cracked wheat that has been set aside.
• 4. Mix all ingredients together with hands adding a few ice cubes to keep the meat red.
• 5. Place on round dish and flatten like the shape of a pizza. Serve with drizzled olive oil (optional) and Arabic bread (pita bread).
• 6. This can be eaten this way for the first day only. The following day you must cook it or you can cook it just if you prefer. To cook make into patties and cook for 5 minutes on each side. Serve on pita bread or any roll you like.

Steps:

• Place bulgur in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with water just to the top of the bulgur. Place in the microwave and cook on High 1 to 2 minutes until bulgur is swollen and the water is absorbed. Toss briefly and allow to stand until cool.
• Place the mint leaves in the bowl of a food processor. Process, gradually adding onion through the feed tube, until both mint and onion are finely chopped. Stir the mint-onion mixture into the bulgur, with the cumin, allspice, salt, and pepper. Stir the bulgur mixture into the ground lamb and mix thoroughly. Using damp hands, shape the lamb mixture into small, palm-sized patties.
• Place the olive oil in a skillet and heat over medium heat. Add the kibbeh patties and cook until outside is golden brown and center is cooked through, turning once, about 6 minutes on each side.

Steps:

• In a food processor, chop onions, pulsing until grated. Add parsley and chop again, using on/off turns.
• Add ground lamb (ground beef can be substituted) along with cinnamon, saffron, salt and pepper. Pulse until combined and mixture is a smooth paste.
• Using metal skewers, taking a ball of approximately 2 tablespoons of mixture, place on skewer, press it along the skewer to make an oval of approximately 4-inches long. (It is easiest if you use a grilling rack in case mixture falls off). Repeat with remaining meat mixture.
• Preheat grill or broiler.
• Grill skewers for 2 minutes on each side or until crisp on the outside.
• To serve: on a large serving platter, place warmed pita breads, onion slices, salad greens, hummus and yogurt mixed with mint (if using) and meat. Fill pitas with choice of accompaniments.

Steps:

• Add all ingredients for hummus in the blender until smooth.
• Combine the first 8 ingredients for the sandwich.
• Cover and chill for 2 hours.
• Spread 1/4 cup hummus on each pita round.
• Sprinkle lettuce, radishes and olives across centers of pitas.
• Top with tomato mixture; sprinkle with cheese.
• Roll up pitas; secure with wooden picks.