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.
✓ USDA-verified nutrition data
440 calories
24g protein
36g carbs
22g fat
5g fiber
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
- Cover the bulgur with hot water and rest 20 minutes, then squeeze completely dry — wet bulgur makes kibbeh that falls apart in the fryer.
- 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.
- For the filling, brown the remaining beef with butter, diced onion, and pine nuts until crumbly and savory. Cool completely.
- 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.
- Chill the shaped kibbeh 20 minutes so they firm up and hold their shape in the hot oil.
- 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.