Sambousek

Name: Sambousek
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Lebanese
Ingredients: 24 wonton wrappers; 0.5 lb ground beef; 0.5 cup onion, finely diced; 3 tbsp pine nuts, chopped; 0.5 tsp ground cumin; 0.125 tsp ground cinnamon; 0.125 tsp ground allspice; 0.25 tsp salt; 0.125 tsp black pepper; 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying); 0.5 cup plain yogurt

Crispy triangular pastries filled with spiced ground meat, onions, and pine nuts. Fried until golden and served as an appetizer or snack with yogurt sauce.

45 minMediumServes 6280 cal/serving

LebaneseAppetizerStovetopStandard

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Ingredients

24 wonton wrappers
0.5 lb ground beef
0.5 cup onion, finely diced
3 tbsp pine nuts, chopped
0.5 tsp ground cumin
0.125 tsp ground cinnamon
0.125 tsp ground allspice
0.25 tsp salt
0.125 tsp black pepper
2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
0.5 cup plain yogurt

Instructions

1

Heat 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying) in a deep skillet to 350°F.
2

While oil heats, cook 0.5 lb ground beef and 0.5 cup finely diced onion together in a pan over medium heat until beef is browned, 5-7 minutes.
3

Drain fat and stir in 3 tbsp chopped pine nuts, 0.5 tsp ground cumin, 0.125 tsp ground cinnamon, 0.125 tsp ground allspice, 0.25 tsp salt, and 0.125 tsp black pepper.
4

Cool filling slightly.
5

Place 1 tsp filling on corner of each 24 wonton wrappers.
6

Fold wrapper into a triangle and press edges to seal.
7

Working in batches, carefully place triangles in hot oil and fry for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.
8

Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
9

Serve warm with 0.5 cup plain yogurt for dipping.

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Questions

What is Sambousek?

Crispy triangular pastries filled with spiced ground meat, onions, and pine nuts. Fried until golden and served as an appetizer or snack with yogurt sauce. This reference files it under Lebanese appetizer: made on the stovetop, rated medium and about 45 minutes start to finish.

How hot should the oil be for Sambousek?

For Sambousek, the frying oil is held at 350 F (about 175 C) in step 1. Hotter scorches the outside before the inside cooks, and cooler turns it greasy.

Can I skip the searing in Sambousek?

Step 7 reads: "Working in batches, carefully place triangles in hot oil and fry for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown." You can, but you give up flavor. The browning in step 7 builds the savory base the rest of the dish is seasoned against. Give the pieces room so the pan stays hot.

Is there a substitute for pine nuts in Sambousek?

The entry for Sambousek calls for 3 tbsp pine nuts, chopped. In its place: Toasted slivered almonds, walnuts or sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds keep it nut-free.

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef in Sambousek?

Yes. Choose turkey that is not extra-lean and add a tablespoon of oil to the pan, because turkey has less fat and browns more slowly. Season it a little harder than you would beef. As written, the entry for Sambousek uses 0.5 lb ground beef.

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