Kafta Bil Senieh

Kafta Bil Senieh

If there is any Lebanese comfort dish, this would be it.

Kafta bil sanieh is a Lebanese minced meat-potato bake that makes an easy, hearty comforting meal that’s full of flavour. It’s a Middle Eastern style meatloaf that’s perfectly spiced and is juicy and delicious, baked in a pan with potatoes, tomatoes and onion in a tomato broth.

This recipe makes a complete meal. Always accompanied by vermicelli-rice, salad and tahini of yogurt sauce on the side. I always place the potatoes first and then the meat, as the meat cooks, the drippings flavour the potatoes and that taste becomes addicting.

This recipe yields 6 portions.

Ingredients:

800 gr. of minced meat (could be half lamb, half beef)

Hand-full of parsley (washed and chopped, and keep a tablespoon for garnish))

2 onion (1 onion for garnish)

4 cloves of garlic

800 gr. tomatoes (keep 2 to 3 tomatoes for garnish)

400 gr. potatoes (peeled, and sliced)

1 tablespoon of seven spices

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of cumin powder

1 teaspoon of chilli flakes

1 tablespoon of tomato paste

Olive oil

Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a bowl mix: the meat, parsley, 1/4 of onion finely chopped, 1 clove of garlic mashed, seven spices, cinnamon, cumin and chilli flakes, mix until well-combined and set aside.

2. In a blender: add tomatoes, onion, garlic, tomato paste, salt and pepper to taste. Blend into a smooth sauce, add water if necessary.

3. In a baking tray: add olive oil, then layer of potatoes, salt and pepper them to taste, then add the meat flattening it to cover the whole tray, drizzle all the tomato sauce.

4. The slice the tomatoes, and the onions, and place onto the meat.

5. Bake in a pre-heated oven for 35 minutes covered with a foil. Then another 15 minutes uncovered. This will allow some caramelization on the top. The meat will shrink a bit but that's very normal.

Tips:

1. A simple salad, with lettuce, tomatoes, radishes and cucumbers with a simple vinaigrette is an excellent as side.

2. A mint yogurt sauce to serve with the meat: mashed garlic, dry mint, lemon juice and zest and yogurt.

3. Equally a tahini sauce is just as delicious: tahini, mashed garlic, lemon juice.

Enjoy!