Snack · 70 min · brazilian

Kibe Frito (Fried Kibbeh)

This is the kind of Brazilian snack you’ll make on repeat — fine bulgur and ground beef, 70 minutes, big payoff. At 440 calories and 24g protein per serving, it fits easily into a high-protein day. Simple enough for a Tuesday, good enough to serve to guests — that is the whole idea.

✓ USDA-verified nutrition data

Ingredients

• 2 cups Fine bulgur
• 1.25 lb Ground beef
• 1 Onion
• 0.25 cup Mint
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 0.25 cup Pine nuts
• 2 tbsp Butter
• 3 cups Vegetable oil
• 2 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Black pepper

Steps

1. Cover the bulgur with hot water and rest 20 minutes, then squeeze completely dry — wet bulgur makes kibbeh that falls apart in the fryer.
2. Knead half the beef with the bulgur, grated onion, mint, cumin, salt, and pepper for 10 minutes into a smooth, firm dough. This is the shell.
3. For the filling, brown the remaining beef with butter, diced onion, and pine nuts until crumbly and savory. Cool completely.
4. With wet hands, shape shell portions into hollow footballs, fill with a spoonful of the meat mixture, and seal. Wet hands are mandatory — the dough sticks to everything dry.
5. Chill the shaped kibbeh 20 minutes so they firm up and hold their shape in the hot oil.
6. Fry at 350°F in batches, 4 to 5 minutes, until deep mahogany and crisp. Drain on a rack and serve hot with lime wedges.

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