Kibbeh Bil Saniyeh

Kibbeh is the Levant’s most beloved bulgur-and-lamb creation, and the baked tray version, kibbeh bil saniyeh, is the one Jordanian families make for holidays and gatherings. Fine bulgur is kneaded with minced lamb and spices into a smooth shell, filled with a sizzling mixture of onion, pine nuts, and more lamb, and baked until the top turns burnished and crisp. It is showy, generous, and deeply satisfying.

A burnished tray of crisp shell and savory heart

The outside bakes to a deep, crunchy crust, while the inside stays moist and fragrant with allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Each slice reveals the dark, oniony filling studded with pine nuts, and the contrast of textures is the whole appeal. Serve it warm with yogurt, a lemony salad, or both, and cut it in diamonds the way the bakeries do. It also freezes beautifully, so making a double tray is never a mistake, and leftover slices are a snack Jordanians quietly hoard.

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