Kibbeh Nayyeh

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Puree the onion in a food processor, adding a little salt and pepper. Rinse the bulgur in a sieve under cold running water and squeeze out the excess moisture. Add it to the onion, blend thoroughly, and pour out of the work bowl.

   Step 2

   Now process the meat to a soft paste, adding a little salt and pepper. Add the onion-and-bulgur mixture and process again, adding a little iced water gradually (start with 1/4 cup), just enough to achieve a soft paste. Continue to process, in batches if you like, or knead with your hands to a smooth, elastic, doughy consistency. Chill in the refrigerator.

   Step 3

   Serve chilled, spread thinly on a flat glass or china serving plate. Drizzle generously with oil and garnish with a few mint leaves.

   Step 4

   Accompany with trimmed scallions and a bowl of small romaine lettuce, and serve with Arab bread.

2. Variations

   Step 5

   You may like to spice the kibbeh mixture with 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander, 1 teaspoon cinnamon or 1/2 teaspoon allspice, and a good pinch of ground chili pepper or cayenne. I have become very fond of that. You can also have a squeeze of lemon juice over the top with the olive oil.

   Step 6

   Another way of serving kibbeh nayyeh is to roll the meat mixture into small, thin fingers and place each one in the cup of a small romaine or Bibb lettuce leaf. Sprinkle with olive oil and lemon juice, or with tamarind diluted in a little water, and garnish with chopped scallions and a dusting of paprika or ground chili pepper.

   Step 7

   Proportions of meat and wheat can be varied, and quantities reversed.

   Step 8

   A marvelous spicy version from Gaziantep, in southeastern Turkey, called çig köfte is so full of wheat and has so many spices that you can hardly tell the raw-meat content. Pour boiling water over 1 1/4 cups bulgur and soak for 1/2 hour. Drain, press all the excess water out, and mix with 2 grated onions. Blend 1/2 pound lean lamb to a paste in a food processor. Add the bulgur and grated onions and the following: 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon ground chili pepper or cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon coriander, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon allspice, and 1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley. Blend to a homogenous paste. Serve spread on a dish sprinkled with parsley and lemon juice, or rolled into little balls.