Sini Kufte
Meat pie
Calories: 525kcal
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb minced beef (extra fine)
- 1 medium onion
- 1 tsp all spice
- 2 tsp salt (divided)
- 1 tsp red pepper (Aleppo-hot)
- 1 1/2 cup bulgur (#1 fine)
- 1 tbsp pepper paste
Instructions
- Start by making the ground beef. Heat the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. When melted add the ground beef, stirring and breaking up into small pieces. When the beef has started to brown but is not completely cooked yet, add the onions and season with salt, pepper and all spice. Continue to cook until the beef is well-browned and cooked through. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Remove from heat. Place the bulgur in a large mixing bowl. Soak the bulgur with 1 cup water (or more as needed) for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until softened (you can add a bit more water at a time until the bulgur absorbs it all). Mix in the minced beef, season with salt, and pepper paste, knead by hand (wet hands as needed to ease mixing). Preheat the oven to 375°F, with the rack set in the middle of the oven. Lightly grease a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with olive oil. Divide the beef and bulgur mixture in half. Take large handfuls of the mixture and press them into the bottom of the pan creating an even layer to cover the entire pan (again, wetting hands will make this process much easier). Spread the ground beef evenly over the beef and bulgur layer .Next, take large handfuls of the remainder of the beef and bulgur mixture and press them between your palms to flatten them to the same thickness of the first layer, Arrange these flattened discs of meat/bulgur over the ground beef evenly, patching them together to create a solid layer, filling in gaps with smaller flattened pieces as needed. Cut into squares about 2 to 2 ½ inches across (alternatively you may cut diamonds), wiping down the knife in between cuts. (wetting and wiping the knife helps clean it between cuts). After cutting the entire pan into squares, pour the oil evenly over the top. Bake, uncovered, for about 45 to 50 minutes, or until it is cooked through and the surface has lightly browned. Use a knife to cut around the edges of the pan, and in between the squares. Serve hot or at room temperature with lemon wedges for squeezing.