Iraqi Meat Dumplings: Kubbeh Halab

Prepare to enjoy the abundant and aromatic tastes of the Middle East with this delicious Kubbeh Halab recipe! Join Chef Zach Engel in the kitchen area and learn how to make fragrant saffron rice and mouth-watering lamb ragu, and then turn them into crispy, football-shaped balls topped with a tasty raisin romesco sauce. See thoroughly and take your cooking skills to the next level with this essential Middle Eastern traditional!

Have a look at the dish here:

infusing saffron into water 00:00

preparing the rice 1:28

lamb ragu 3:29

making the rice shell 7:30

frying and tasting 11:07

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About the Author: Yvette Cook

28 Comments

  1. “this is just a normal iraqi streetfood” *dumpy in a month’s salary worth of saffron*

    1. I’m thinking closer to 2 months income for me. 😆 Unless it’s the “cheap stuff”.😊

    2. Saffron is cheap in Middle East, in Pakistan it’s not strange to see a saffron sprinkled all over their street food

    3. yeah just use turmeric lmao. thats what most of us, who arent working in michelin star restaurants, use 🤣

    4. @tannhauserr shipping wouldn’t be expensive…. I’ll have to look into trying to order some.

  2. Not a fan of lamb but I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this. Love when we get to learn about the favourites of other cultures. Thank you Chef Engel.

  3. Loved the education and techniques in this recipe! Even the parchment paper to prevent the rice sticking and promote the steaming… genius idea

  4. Like, that was like, kind of like, a like good kind of recipe like. I kind of like really like want to try some.

    1. Im from Iraq. We never use saffron but always turmeric. It looks he added a persian touch

  5. I’ve never seen kubbeh made with rice before. Usually it’s wheat, either bulgur or semolina. Really interesting.

  6. This is the most unique dumpling I have ever seen. I’d love to try it.

  7. Fun fact, my mom makes these all the time and you can just add turmeric instead of saffron, locals rarely yse saffron

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