Feta Stuffed Kibbeh With Harissa Recipes

FETA-STUFFED KIBBEH WITH HARISSA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Soak bulgur according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add onion, garlic and seasonings. Add lamb; mix lightly but thoroughly. Divide meat mixture into 18 portions. In another bowl, combine feta cheese, pine nuts and harissa. Shape each portion of meat mixture around 2 teaspoons feta mixture to cover completely; form into a football shape. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until cooked through, 15-20 minutes. Serve with tzatziki.

HARISSA-BRAISED CHICKPEAS WITH FETA

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook until the onion is softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the harissa, anchovy paste and garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Add the wine and simmer until reduced by half. Add the chickpeas, thyme, remaining 1/2 cup olive oil, about 1/4 teaspoon pepper and a few good pinches of salt and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chickpeas are very soft, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the lemon halves cut-side down until they get some nice brown marks on them.
• When the chickpeas are ready, squeeze in the juice from the grilled lemon halves. Discard the thyme sprigs. Place a dollop of yogurt in each serving bowl, then use a slotted spoon to scatter some of the chickpeas on top. Add some crumbled feta, a handful of herbs and a bunch of turns of pepper to each bowl. Serve with crusty bread.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH KIBBEH WITH SPICED FETA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cut the squash in half lengthwise, scrape out the seeds and bake, flesh side down, on a cookie sheet until tender, about 45 minutes. Let cool slightly, scrape out the flesh, then purée in a food processor until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Simmer the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until nut brown, about 10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat and sauté the onion and pepper until tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Stir in the paprika and 1 teaspoon of baharat, followed by 2 cups of the squash. Bring to a simmer. Stir in the bulgur and remove from the heat. Cover tightly for 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir in the brown butter.
• Stir together the feta, the remaining baharat, sumac, chilies and parsley, making the mixture as creamy as possible. Season with salt and pepper.
• Fill 8 1/2-cup ramekins each with a scant 1/2 cup of the bulgur mixture. With your fingers, compress the bulgur to form a large well in the center of each (the bulgur will creep up the sides). Fill each well with 2 heaping teaspoons of feta and use the displaced bulgur to seal in the cheese. Set the ramekins on a cookie sheet and bake until hot, about 15 minutes. Run a sharp knife around the inside of the ramekins, unmold the kibbeh and serve immediately.

FETA-STUFFED HAMBURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat, and lightly oil the grate.
• Knead together the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Form the mixture into 8 equal-sized balls; flatten to make thin patties. Place about 1/4 cup of feta cheese onto each of four of the patties. Top each of the patties with cheese with one of the patties without; press the edges together to seal the cheese into the center.
• Cook on the preheated grill until the burgers are cooked to your desired degree of doneness, 7 to 8 minutes per side for well done. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

HARISSA CHICKEN TRAYBAKE WITH PEPPERS & FETA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. In a large bowl, mix together the harissa paste and the vinegar, then add the chicken and onions. Spread the mixture out in a large roasting tin and roast for 35 mins, turning at least once. In the final 10 mins, add the peppers and feta, then sprinkle with the pine nuts just before the end of the cooking time. Serve with the pan juices and couscous.

HARISSA ROASTED SQUASH & FETA PIE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the squash and onions into a large roasting tin with 1 tbsp olive oil, most of the cumin seeds, 2 tbsp harissa and some seasoning. Roast for 35-40 mins, tossing once or twice until the veg is soft and charred in spots. Leave to cool slightly, then roughly mash together using a potato masher - you want to retain some chunks of squash. Stir through the feta and season with salt, if needed. The veg can be roasted a day ahead and kept chilled.
• To assemble, unravel the filo pastry. Brush one sheet liberally with some of the remaining oil, and keep the rest covered with a damp tea towel to stop it drying out. Drape the oiled sheet, oiled-side down, into a 22cm loose-bottomed cake tin so that some of the pastry hangs over the side. Repeat with another sheet of pastry, turning it by about 45 degrees over the first sheet in the tin, then again with the last two pastry sheets.
• Spoon in the filling, then pull the overhanging pastry up and towards the centre, scrunching it to enclose the filling. Scatter with the remaining cumin seeds and brush with a little more oil.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Bake the pie for 30 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden brown. Meanwhile, mix the tahini with the remaining harissa, the lemon juice and 4 tbsp water, then season to taste. Remove the pie to a serving plate, slice into wedges and serve with sauce for drizzling over. Or, cool to room temperature first.