Kibbeh is a signature Middle Eastern dish often served as part of mezze, which is a selection of appetisers. It uses ground meat, bulgur, onions and spices and is considered the national dish of Lebanon. The word kibbeh has been derived from an Arabic word, which means ‘to form into a ball’. Kibbeh may be raw, fried, baked or even prepared as a vegetarian version. Raw kibbeh is known as ‘kibbeh nayyeh’. In this version, the bulgur and meat are mixed with spices and pureéd onions and stuffed into traditional flatbreads. Raw kibbeh came into being because Lebanese people killed animals on feast days like Sunday and the raw meat needed to be eaten immediately. Fried kibbeh are known as ‘kibbeh nabilseeyah’. It is usually eaten as a snack for celebratory and even everyday meals. Usually, kibbeh is served with mint leaves.
