Kubbeh Hamusta is a well known Center Eastern dish that comprises of dumplings produced using bulgur wheat or semolina and loaded up with an exquisite combination of ground meat and flavors. The dumplings are then cooked in a tasty stock made with Swiss chard, spinach, or other salad greens, making a delightful and nutritious feast that is ideal for any event.
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Ingredients:
For the dumplings:
- 1 cup fine bulgur wheat or semolina
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 pound ground beef or lamb
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the broth:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 bunch Swiss chard, chopped
- 1 bunch spinach, chopped
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- To make the dumplings, start by placing the bulgur wheat or semolina in a large bowl and cover it with hot water. Let it stand for 20 minutes to soften the grains.
- Drain the bulgur wheat or semolina well, and then add the all-purpose flour, salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, allspice, and cinnamon to the bowl. Mix well until all ingredients are well combined.
- Knead the mixture with your hands until it forms a smooth dough. If the dough feels too dry, add a little bit of water or oil to moisten it.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the ground beef or lamb, chopped onion, chopped parsley, and olive oil. Make sure that all the ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Take a small portion of the dough and roll it into a small ball, about 1 inch in diameter. Using your thumb, make a small indentation in the center of the ball, creating a small cup or bowl shape.
- Spoon a small amount of the meat mixture into the indentation, filling it about 2/3 full. Be careful not to overfill the dumplings, as they may burst during cooking.
- Use your fingers to pinch the edges of the dough together around the filling, forming a small dumpling shape. Make sure to seal the edges well, so that the filling does not leak out during cooking.
- Repeat the process until all the dough and filling are used up, making about 20-25 dumplings in total.
- To make the broth, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the onions are softened and translucent.
- Add the ground cumin, coriander, allspice, and cinnamon to the pot, and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent the spices from burning.
- Add the chopped Swiss chard and spinach to the pot, stirring well to combine with the onions and spices. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the greens are wilted and tender.
- Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let the broth simmer for 10 minutes, to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Carefully add the dumplings to the broth, one at a time, using a spoon or ladle. Make sure to gently place them in the broth so that they don’t break apart.
- Let the dumplings cook in the broth for 10-15 minutes, or until they are fully cooked through and tender. You can test them by cutting one open to see if the filling is cooked.
- Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. You can also add additional spices or herbs if you prefer a stronger flavor.
- Serve the Kubbeh Hamusta hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy!
Kubbeh Hamusta
A classic Middle Eastern meal, kubbeh hamusta is especially well-liked in Iraq and other Levantine nations. It is composed up of dumplings filled with a variety of greens and made with a semolina or rice shell.
Prep Time 45 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr
Course Main Course
Cuisine Iraqi
Servings 6 people
Calories 300 kcal
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls For mixing and kneading the dough and preparing the filling.
- Skillet or Pan: To sauté the onions, greens, and other filling ingredients.
- Wooden spoon or spatula For stirring the filling while cooking.
- Large pot For preparing the soup and cooking the kubbeh dumplings.
- Knife and cutting board For chopping and preparing ingredients.
- Measuring cups and spoons For accurate measurement of ingredients.
- Rolling Pin (optional): If you prefer to use a rolling pin to flatten the semolina dough.
- Ladle For serving the soup.
- Soup Bowls and Spoons: For serving and eating the finished dish.
- Cooking Timer: To keep track of cooking times.
- Grater (optional): If your recipe includes ingredients that need grating.
- Citrus Juicer (optional): If you need to juice a lemon for the soup.
Ingredients
For the dumplings:
- 1 cup fine bulgur wheat or semolina
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 pound ground beef or lamb
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the broth:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 bunch Swiss chard, chopped
- 1 bunch spinach, chopped
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- To make the dumplings, start by placing the bulgur wheat or semolina in a large bowl and cover it with hot water. Let it stand for 20 minutes to soften the grains.
- Drain the bulgur wheat or semolina well, and then add the all-purpose flour, salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, allspice, and cinnamon to the bowl. Mix well until all ingredients are well combined.
- Knead the mixture with your hands until it forms a smooth dough. If the dough feels too dry, add a little bit of water or oil to moisten it.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the ground beef or lamb, chopped onion, chopped parsley, and olive oil. Make sure that all the ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Take a small portion of the dough and roll it into a small ball, about 1 inch in diameter. Using your thumb, make a small indentation in the center of the ball, creating a small cup or bowl shape.
- Spoon a small amount of the meat mixture into the indentation, filling it about 2/3 full. Be careful not to overfill the dumplings, as they may burst during cooking.
- Use your fingers to pinch the edges of the dough together around the filling, forming a small dumpling shape. Make sure to seal the edges well, so that the filling does not leak out during cooking.
- Repeat the process until all the dough and filling are used up, making about 20-25 dumplings in total.
- To make the broth, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the onions are softened and translucent.
- Add the ground cumin, coriander, allspice, and cinnamon to the pot, and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent the spices from burning.
- Add the chopped Swiss chard and spinach to the pot, stirring well to combine with the onions and spices. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the greens are wilted and tender.
- Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let the broth simmer for 10 minutes, to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Carefully add the dumplings to the broth, one at a time, using a spoon or ladle. Make sure to gently place them in the broth so that they don’t break apart.
- Let the dumplings cook in the broth for 10-15 minutes, or until they are fully cooked through and tender. You can test them by cutting one open to see if the filling is cooked.
- Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. You can also add additional spices or herbs if you prefer a stronger flavor.
- Serve the Kubbeh Hamusta hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Note: This estimate is for one serving of Kubbeh Hamusta (soup with one or two kubbeh dumplings).
Nutritional Information (Approximate):
-
Calories: 250-350 kcal
-
Protein: 5-10g
-
Carbohydrates: 40-50g
-
Dietary Fiber: 3-5g
-
Sugars: 3-5g
-
Fat: 8-12g
-
Saturated Fat: 1-2g
-
Cholesterol: 0mg
-
Sodium: 800-1200mg (mainly from broth and added salt)
-
Vitamin A: 2000-3000 IU
-
Vitamin C: 20-30mg
-
Calcium: 50-100mg
-
Iron: 2-4mg
Keyword Kubbeh Hamusta, Kubbeh Hamusta Recipe