A vegan kibbeh made from bulgur, potato and walnuts, with a chickpea, onion and nut filling. Same original recipe, simply arranged to make it easier to prepare.
Ingredients
Kibbeh dough
- 500 g fine bulgur
- 1 large potato, washed and peeled
- A handful of walnuts
- 1 large onion
- 3 tbsp flour
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 2 tbsp marjoram
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp seven-spice blend
- A pinch of cardamom + a pinch of allspice + a pinch of bay leaf
- Salt
- Cold water for kneading
- Oil for frying
Filling
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 cups cooked chickpeas, chopped
- A handful of toasted nuts: pine nuts, walnuts or almonds
- 4 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp seven-spice blend
- 1 tsp black pepper
- Salt
- Chili, optional
Method
1. Make the kibbeh dough
- Put the walnuts, onion and all the kibbeh ingredients except the bulgur, boiled potato, flour and water into a food processor. Process until they form a paste.
- Add this mixture to the bulgur and mix well. Leave for 10 minutes so the bulgur absorbs the flavors.
- Add the boiled, peeled potato and the flour, then knead thoroughly.
- Add cold water as needed while keeping the kibbeh mixture firm.
- Process the mixture in a kibbeh machine or food processor until fine, then adjust the salt and spices.
- Test whether the mixture can be shaped. If it does not hold together, add a little more flour.
2. Make the filling
- Heat the oil in a pan and cook the onion until softened.
- Add the cooked, chopped chickpeas and mix well.
- Add the spices and salt.
- Turn off the heat, add the toasted nuts, and mix. The filling is now ready.
3. Shape and cook
Shape the kibbeh and fill it as shown in the photos, then fry in hot oil. Or shape the mixture into patties for baking/grilling after brushing both the tray and the patties with oil. Serve with salad.
Enjoy 🙂
What does walnut and potato kibbeh actually give us?
Bulgur contributes whole grains and fiber, chickpeas add legumes and plant protein, and walnuts add polyunsaturated fats—including ALA omega-3—along with minerals and plant compounds. The meal is nutritionally rich without needing vague promises about “boosting memory” or treating mood.
Walnuts have a clear effect on cardiovascular risk markers: a recent meta-analysis of 49 randomized trials found reductions in LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides. Source.
Another meta-analysis of randomized trials found that walnuts improved endothelial function, an important part of arterial health. Source.
So this kibbeh is not replacing meat with something “empty.” It replaces it with walnuts, chickpeas, bulgur and potato: fiber, plant protein, unsaturated fats and measurable cardiovascular benefits.
For a raw-style version, try our potato and walnut kibbeh. For baked kibbeh, try lentil kibbeh or pumpkin kibbeh.
