Kafta bil sanieh is an oven-baked kafta recipe made with potatoes, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, and tomato sauce.

Kafta is the Lebanese version of meatballs. I guess you could also compare it to American meatloaf. This flavorful kafta is hearty, and delicious- you are going to what to lick the plate.

This childhood favorite is a comforting dish loved by people across Lebanon. Served alongside Lebanese vermicelli rice, it will warm your heart and soul every single time you have it. If you like kafta kabobs, try this kafta bil sanieh.

Ingredient Notes

Kafta minced meat: Kafta is a meat mixture made of minced lamb or minced beef mixed with chopped onion, parsley, and a medley of Middle Eastern spices. For kafta bil sanieh, add an egg and breadcrumbs to keep it from falling apart when spreading it in the oven dish.

Potatoes: Roast the potatoes in the oven for 15 minutes before using them in the recipe. Some people give them a half-fry. The important thing is not to use uncooked potatoes in the dish. Use russet potatoes, golden potatoes, or any white potato.

How To Make Kafta Bil Sanieh

Peel and slice the potatoes and onion into thin circles. Slice the bell pepper and tomatoes. Half bake the potatoes in the oven at 400 ℉ (205 ℃) for about 20 minutes. Optional: roast the sliced onion and bell pepper with the potatoes.

add minced meat, chopped parsley, minced garlic, onion and spices to a bowl

Make the kafta mixture. Wash and chop the parsley. Crush the garlic either with a garlic press or mortar and pestle. Finely chop the onion. Place the minced meat in a large mixing bowl. Add the crushed garlic, chopped parsley, chopped onions, ground allspice, ground seven spice, ground cinnamon, and salt.

Mix the kafta meat really well.

Add in an egg and breadcrumbs, and use your hand to mix everything together.

kafta meat mixture pressed into a baking pan with the edges empty

Grease a baking dish with some oil. Place meat mixture in the middle and use your hand to spread it all across the bottom of the baking dish. Leave some space around the meat to place the vegetables on the outside edges.

add all of the layered tomatoes around the kafta casserole dish

Next, start placing the vegetables around the meat. Start with the onions, green peppers (bell pepper), and potato slices. Top with sliced tomatoes.

pouring the tomato sauce on the kafta minced meat

Mix the tomato paste with water and pour it all over the dish covering the meat and the vegetables with the liquid.

Bake the kafta bil sanieh with the tomato broth in a preheated oven at 350 ℉ (180 ℃) for about an hour. Remove the meat and the vegetables from the oven when they are fully roasted. Serve with Lebanese vermicelli rice.

Variations

Kafta and potato stew: The same exact ingredients but as a hearty stew. In this variation of the dish the kafta is rolled into meatballs and cooked in a pot with the tomato paste. Cubed potatoes are added in alongside any other vegetables being used.
Kafta patties: In Lebanon, many people make the same kafta bil sanieh but don't spread the kafta across the oven dish and opt to make round or long-shaped kafta patties instead. For another variation of these Lebanese meat patties, check out this baked chicken kafta pattie recipe.
Kafta kabobs are delicious skewered kabobs. Serve kafta kabobs alongside toum garlic sauce, hummus, tarator, and pita bread.

📋 Recipe