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Lebanese Meat Pastry Bites 2

Serves 4 to 6 Appetizer meat, Appetizers

Lebanese Meat Pastry Bites 2

Lebanese Meat Pastry Bites 2, a staple of home cooking, brings the essence of Lebanese family kitchens to your table. This dish is all about generosity and instinct, with salt measured by taste and fat embraced as a friend, not a foe. It's a beloved offering at home gatherings, where the act of sharing transcends the meal itself.

Biting into these pastries reveals a tender mixture of seasoned beef and onions, warmly enveloped in a crisp, golden shell. The combination of fine sea salt and black pepper infuses each bite with a burst of flavor, creating a harmonious balance that speaks to the heart of Lebanese cooking.

Ingredients

  • 300 gground beef
  • 1onion
  • 12pastry wrappers
  • for fryingoil
  • to tastefine sea salt and black pepper

Method

  1. Begin by finely chopping 1 onion. This will ensure the onion cooks evenly and integrates well with the ground beef, providing a balanced flavor throughout the filling.
  2. In a medium-sized skillet, add enough oil to coat the bottom and heat over medium-high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the chopped onion and sauté until it becomes translucent and slightly golden, which will take about 3 to 5 minutes. This step enhances the sweetness of the onion, contributing depth to the filling.
  3. Add 300 g of ground beef to the skillet with the onions. Use a wooden spoon to break up the beef into small pieces, ensuring it cooks evenly. Cook until the beef is browned and no pink remains, which will give the filling a rich, savory taste.
  4. Season the beef and onion mixture with fine sea salt and black pepper to taste. Stir well to distribute the seasoning evenly. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasoning if necessary, ensuring a well-balanced flavor.
  5. Lay out 12 pastry wrappers on a clean surface. Place a spoonful of the beef mixture in the center of each wrapper, being careful not to overfill. This will prevent the wrappers from tearing during cooking.
  6. Fold each pastry wrapper over the filling to form a half-moon shape. Press the edges firmly with your fingers or a fork to seal, ensuring the filling does not escape during frying.
  7. In a deep frying pan, heat enough oil to submerge the pastries over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot enough that a small piece of pastry sizzles immediately when added, gently lower the pastries into the oil in batches. Fry until they are golden brown and crispy, turning once, which should take about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
  8. Remove the pastries from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil. Sprinkle with a little more fine sea salt while still hot to enhance the flavor.
  9. Serve the Lebanese Meat Pastry Bites immediately while they are warm and crispy. These are best enjoyed fresh, embodying the generous and communal spirit of Lebanese home cooking.
Cover of Authentic Lebanese Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Lebanese Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Lebanese Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Lebanese volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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