Fried Kubbeh

Ingredients

Outer Shell

• 1 lb Cracked Wheat (bulgur)
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 large onion, quartered
• 2 - 3 green chilis
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. all spice
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

Filling

• 2 lb ground beef
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1 tsp. salt, or to taste
• 1 tsp. all spice
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• Oil for frying the kubbeh

Directions

1. Wash the cracked wheat under running water and soak for 15 minutes. Drain well and press to remove water as much as possible.
   
   
2. In a saucepan, heat 1 tsp. canola oil and fry the pine nuts. Remove and set aside.
   
   
3. In the same saucepan, brown the filling meat, add the salt, spices and the chopped onions and continue cooking until the onions and beef are well cooked.  Cool and stir in the fried pine nuts.
   
   
4. Mix the cracked wheat with the ground meat, salt, spices chilis and onions and grind in a food grinder 2 or 3 times.
   
   
5. To Form the Kubbeh: with wet hands, shape the kubbeh mixture into egg-sized balls. Make a hole down the center of each ball with index finger to make a deep cup with a pointed bottom. Fill each ball with about 1 tablespoon of the filling.
   
   Press down on the sides and top to enclose the filling and reshape into a smooth egg with a pointed top. Repeat with the remaining mixture, wetting your hands frequently.
   
   Fry in hot oil.
   
   
6. Serve with Yoghurt Cucumber salad.