Kebab Halabi (Aleppo Cherry Kebab)

Kebab halabi comes from Aleppo, the city that gave the world the bold pairing of meat and fruit. Juicy lamb meatballs are simmered in a ruby-red sauce made from sour cherries, touched with sugar, lemon, and a generous hand of the region’s famous pepper. What began as an aristocratic dish found its way into every home, where it became a favorite for special dinners. It is served over fine bulgur pilaf, with the glossy sauce soaking into every grain.

Lamb meatballs in a ruby cherry sauce

The sauce is the showstopper: tart cherries collapse into a deep-red glaze that is sweet, tangy, and faintly smoky from the Aleppo pepper, which warms without scorching. The meatballs stay tender and juicy, soaking up the fruit as they simmer. It is a bold, surprising dish — proof that Syrian cooking loves a little drama on the plate, and that fruit and lamb were always meant to meet.

Craving more? Explore all Syrian Kitchen recipes.

This dish is built from Middle Eastern pantry staples — explore all 20 in our guide to 20 essential Middle Eastern pantry ingredients.

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