Comments on: Kibbeh with citrus sauce (Kibbeh Arnabieh)

By: ange

ange — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:16:52 +0000

i love it our beiruty famouse dish , its took long time to do but so yummmmmmy

By: Joumana

Joumana — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:07:53 +0000

@Hannibal: Thank you so much for the information and clarifications! I will try and see if I can find an example of this rabbit ear-shaped kibbeh anywhere!

By: Hannibal

Hannibal — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:01:06 +0000

My family is one of the original seven families of Beirut. I was born in Ras-Beirut myself. I recall from my childhood that my grandmother stuffed the kibbeh with hashweh, used plain water (not meat broth), and 4 different citrus juices to make the sauce. Of course, bitter orange juice is always a key ingredient.

The shape of the kibbeh qras for arnabiyeh were different than the traditional football shape. They looked, more or less, like cones. When plated, the kibbeh looked like “rabbit ears”; hence the name. Therefore, the name arnabiyeh is never used if the meat ingredient is anything besides kibbeh. As far as I recall, only fried fish was considered as an alternate. Beef cubes or lamb shanks must have been introduced in the last few decades to shorten the cooking time and effort involved when preparing this dish. I do not recall what the name given to the dish when fried fish is used instead of the kibbeh. Nonetheless, I am certain that the dish has a different name altogether. Best.

By: najwa

najwa — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:10:35 +0000

I,m very, very happy and i love this recipie .Thankyou very match.

By: CGB

CGB — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:59:36 +0000

It is hard to find bitter orange in the US, but luckily it is widely used in Mexican and Latin American cooking. You can find bitter orange juice even at Kmart in some areas under Naranja Agria.

By: Joumana

Joumana — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:45:02 +0000

Your comment made me chuckle! You are right, Lebanese (men, especially) are so into “how does it compare to my mother’s cooking”! Better to laugh about it than to pull your hair!

By: lebwmex

lebwmex — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:09:13 +0000

I just found your site. Wow, I wish I had found you 7 years ago when I married my Leb husband. It is so nice to read your twist on Lebanese food. I have found that Lebanese are some of the toughest food critics about their traditional food. Now I can make some of your recipes and tell them to hallas with your comparing it with your Mother’s cooking. LOL.

By: Ivy

Ivy — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:36:56 +0000

This dish sounds amazing especially with the citrus sauce.

By: Arlette

Arlette — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:08:26 +0000

Seems there is telepathy going on between us, every time I think of a recipe I found yours already posted…
I am planning to do the kibbee this week… I do stuff my kibbee, fry it a bit then add it to the sauce.since cannot find seville oranges here too, I mix mandarine, oranges and grapefruit with the lemons to get the nice flavour.
I use a whole sirloin piece and I cut it and clean it myself…not lucky to find ontario lamb grain fed always..
have to wait for the summer… to get a half a lamb

I am coking mloukhieh now… come over for supper.
by the way this is a great posting

By: Diana@Soap&Chocolate

Diana@Soap&Chocolate — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:03:37 +0000

Have never eaten kibbeh but of course now I’m DYING to try!