Шикі кіббе: Левант мезесінің тарихы мен дайындалуы

Levantine mezze

Kibbeh nayyeh or raw kibbeh (كبة نيئة) is a Levantine mezze that likely originated in Aleppo, Syria. It consists of minced raw lamb (or beef) mixed with fine bulgur and spices. Kibbeh nayyeh is often served with mint leaves, olive oil, and green onions. Pita bread is used to scoop it. It is sometimes served with a sauce of garlic or olive oil. Leftovers are then cooked to create a different dish. Many recipes call for kibbe nayyeh as the "shell" for cooked kibbeh. In this case, however, the kibbe is rolled into a ball and stuffed with lamb, onions, pine nuts and spices, then fried. As in other dishes based on raw meat, health departments urge to exercise extreme caution when preparing and eating this kind of food.

There are different stories about the origins of Kibbeh nayyeh, however, it is believed that Aleppo, in modern day Syria, is the most likely place where it evolved. Aleppines would slaughter animals on Sundays and feast days and eat the fresh meat raw. Another story comes from the late 13th century. In 1283 the Mamluk Sultanate invaded the Maronite region of Jebbet Bsharri (modern day Bsharri and Zgharta districts in North Lebanon) razing many villages and slaughtering or taking captive the inhabitants. When the Mamluks reached the village of Hadath El Jebbeh its inhabitants fled and took refuge in the 'Asi al Hadath grotto. The Mamluks then built a watchtower at the entrance of the grotto to monitor the Maronites. As a result of this many Maronites starved to death in the grotto. In order to survive, the Maronites started to eat raw meat, mixed with bulgur pounded in a stone mortar. Eating the meat raw allowed the Maronites to avoid revealing their location to the Mamluks, as cooking the meat would alert the Mamluks from the smoke of the fire. The siege ended after seven years when the Mamluks discovered the canal which fed water to the grotto by making their horses thirsty to discover the water source which they subsequently cut off from the grotto. This forced the Maronites to leave the grotto which led to the slaughtering of the men with the women being taken into captivity and the village of Hadath El Jebbeh being burnt to the ground. The tradition of kibbeh nayyeh was preserved and passed into present times as a reminder of the oppression and injustice that the Maronites went through. Today, kibbeh nayyeh is most popular in Lebanon and Syria. It is also consumed by Druze in Israel. Kibbeh nayyeh is a popular dish among Christians in the Middle East on regular and holiday occasions such as Christmas and Easter.