“Luckily, the food on the Egyptian side of the family is a lot simpler to prepare and stars in our kitchen. The kids’ favorite dish, which we have at least once a week, is Belihat; fluffy meat patties poached in a seasoned tomato sauce.”
Click and enter the kitchen of the Haim Family
Ingredients for Belihat - Egyptian Meat Patties
For the Sauce
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 chili peppers spicy, chopped (you can use dry instead)
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika or 1 tablespoon spicy paprika, if you like the heat
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- 3-4 tomatoes finely chopped (or substitute with a can of chopped tomatoes)
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
For the Meat Patties
- 1.1 lb (500 grams) ground beef
- 1 egg
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- ½ cup breadcrumbs or matzah meal
- ½ teaspoon hot paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- Salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- oil for frying
Instructions
Prepare the Sauce:
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1. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic, chili pepper and paprika and mix well.
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2. Add the tomato paste with ½ cup of water and stir for about 2 minutes. Add the sugar, cumin and coriander seeds and mix well.
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3. Add the chopped tomatoes and bring to a boil. Add the remaining water and bring to a second boil.
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4. Reduce to a low heat, add the balsamic vinegar and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Prepare the Patties:
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5. Place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
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6. Using wet hands, roll the mixture into date-shaped patties.
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7. Heat the frying oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the patties about 1 minute on each side, until lightly brown.
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8. Place the fried patties in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add water to cover the patties and mix gently. Cook over a low heat for about 30 minutes.
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9. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, mix and serve.