Appetizer · Snack · Middle Eastern ·

Crunchy Lebanese Kibbeh Balls Stuffed with Pine Nuts and Lamb

Name: Crunchy Lebanese Kibbeh Balls Stuffed with Pine Nuts and Lamb
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 200 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Appetizer
Ingredients: Fine bulgur wheat, 2 cups — rinsed and soaked; Ground beef or lamb, 1 lb — lean; Onion, 1 large — finely chopped; Allspice, 1 tsp; Ground cinnamon, 1 tsp; Salt, 1 tsp; Black pepper, 1/2 tsp; Ground lamb, 1/2 lb; Pine nuts, 1/4 cup — toasted; Onion, 1 — finely chopped; Ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp; Allspice, 1/2 tsp; Salt, 1/2 tsp; Black pepper, 1/4 tsp; Olive oil, 1 tbsp; Vegetable oil, For deep frying

Enjoy these crispy Kibbeh balls, filled with seasoned lamb and crunchy pine nuts, perfect for appetizers or a flavorful snack.

4(636 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·January 13, 2026

Crunchy Lebanese Kibbeh Balls Stuffed with Pine Nuts and Lamb — Appetizer served and photographed from above

Prep

50 min

Cook

2 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Kibbeh Dough

For the Filling

For Frying

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 112 kcal
Protein: 6 g
Carbs: 4 g
Fat: 8 g
Fiber: 1 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 2684 kcal
Protein: 143 g
Carbs: 100 g
Fat: 193 g
Fiber: 28 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
Fine bulgur wheat 2 cups — rinsed and soaked	300	10	66	2	18
Ground beef or lamb 1 lb — lean	960	84	0	68	0
Onion 1 large — finely chopped	60	2	14	0	3
Allspice 1 tsp	6	0	1	0	1
Ground cinnamon 1 tsp	6	0	2	0	1
Salt 1 tsp	0	0	0	0	0
Black pepper 1/2 tsp	3	0	1	0	1
Ground lamb 1/2 lb	480	42	0	34	0
Pine nuts 1/4 cup — toasted	213	4	4	21	2
Onion 1 — finely chopped	45	1	11	0	2
Ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp	3	0	1	0	0
Allspice 1/2 tsp	3	0	1	0	0
Salt 1/2 tsp	0	0	0	0	0
Black pepper 1/4 tsp	2	0	0	0	0
Olive oil 1 tbsp	120	0	0	14	0
Vegetable oil For deep frying	480	0	0	54	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Bulgur Mixture

1
Soak and Prepare Bulgur
Rinse the bulgur wheat thoroughly and soak in water until tender.
2
Drain Bulgur
Drain excess water from the bulgur and squeeze out additional moisture.
3
Mix Dough Ingredients
In a large bowl, mix the bulgur, ground meat, onion, and spices until smooth.

Preparing the Lamb Filling

1
Sauté Onions
Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat and sauté the onions until translucent.
2
Cook Lamb
Add the ground lamb and cook until browned.
3
Add Nuts and Spices
Stir in pine nuts and spices, cook for another 2 minutes, and let cool.

How to Make Crunchy Lebanese Kibbeh Balls Stuffed with Pine Nuts and Lamb

Total time: 3 h 20 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Forming the Kibbeh Balls
Take a small portion of dough, make a hole, fill with lamb mixture, then seal.
2
Frying
Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) in a deep fryer or heavy pot and fry the Kibbeh balls until golden brown, approximately 6-8 minutes.
3
Draining
Remove the Kibbeh balls and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.