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Title: "Trick" Kibbeh
Categories: Soup Syrian Lebanese
Yield: 8 Servings
| 1 | c | Bulgur, fine grade, soaked 1/2 hour in enough water to cover |
| 1/4 | c | Flour |
| 3 | tb | Salt |
| 1/4 | ts | Cinnamon |
| 1 | c | Thinly sliced green onions |
| 1/4 | c | Finely chopped mint |
| 1/4 | c | Finely chopped parsley |
| 9 | c | Chicken stock |
| 1 | c | Lentils |
| Juice of 3 lemons | ||
| 4 | Garlic cloves, crushed | |
| 1/2 | c | Olive oil |
| 1 | Lemon |
The "trick" in this Syrian-Lebanese vegetable soup is that there's no meat in the kibbeh "meatballs." The idea that a vegetarian dish is a deception (vegetarian dolmas are known as yalanji, the Turkish word for "counterfeit") goes back at least 1,200 years in the Near East.
In bowl, mix bulgur, flour, 1/2 tablespoon salt, cinnamon, green onions, mint and parsley. Add enough water to make thick dough. Rolls into 24 very firmly packed balls the size of large marbles. Set aside to dry.
Put 9 cups chicken stock in pot, add lentils and bring to boil 10 minutes. Add 2 1/2 tablespoons, reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender, 20-25 minutes.
Add bulgur balls and boil 5 minutes. Add lemon juice, garlic and oil. Simmer until balls are done, 10 minutes. Garnish with thin lemon slices.
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