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bob observes isgouhi and ani in our own kitchen preparing for an extended family dinner.
They start by sauteeing the ground beef first and then adding in the finely chopped onions until they are cooked. Then left to cool while the bulgur-meat paste is made.
The top round beef is meticulously cut, eliminating the white fat as much as possible.
Then it is food processed to a smooth paste in two batches.
The bulgur used for the bulgur-meat paste or dough.
The water is spread around and absorbed by tilting the 14 inch pan.
The meat is ready to incorporate.
Now the combination step with the water soaked bulgur.
First the spices are added.
Then they are worked into the bulgur, wetting the hands with the icewater as needed.
Getting there.
Now about ready for the meat.
The meat is worked in half at a time.
See how it is combining?
Now it is ready, and since this is an extra large batch, some will be made into the bombs.
The meat filling has cooled by now.
Each little ball must be painstakingly opened into a little container to pour in some meat filling and then worked closed.
Filled and closing.
Pretty circle of first bombs.
Notice little white fat pieces Isgouhi picked out of the meat paste as she was working it.
The bombs are ready to be baked.
The bottom layer begins ovr a layer of oil.
Piece by piece the bottom layer is built up, but to get the flattened pieces off the plate we need plastic wrap.
More.
The plastic should have been used from the start.
First layer almost done, then smoothed out with wet fingers.
Next the filling is spread evenly around.
The second layer takes shape.
Second layer done, and again smoothed out with wet fingers.
The traditional scoring design begins.
Diamonds appear.
Done.
And the final touch: pine nuts in the center if each diamond. For the previous effort see the 2015 photo series.
The raw bulgur-meat patties is another terrific Lebanese traditional way of serving this without the meat filling.
top view.
Front focus closer up. These are really good. If you fear raw meat and are unable to get a safe hunk you can trust, you can replace the meat by potatoes and flour for the vegan version.