Kermanish meatballs, filled with spiced meat

Kermanish meatballs, filled with spiced meat

Main dishes

Beef and split pea meatballs, filled with ground beef, split peas, and sweet potatoes, topped with walnuts and grapes, then fried and simmered in a lemon …

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The “holu kabab” is a specialty of Kermanshah. These meat patties, filled with walnuts and grapes, are finished cooking in a lemon syrup.

Ingredients and directions

  • Prep time1 hr
  • Cook time1 hr
  • Total2 hr
  • DifficultyHard
  • CostBudget
  • Cooking methodfrying and simmering
  • Estimated cost$3.18 $0.53 / serving Estimated price; varies by store. Converted from euros at the ECB rate of October 7, 2026.

Ingredients

6 people
  • $0.58
  • $0.57
  • $0.70
  • $0.06
  • $0.16
  • $0.41
  • $0.59
  • $0.11

Prices from US supermarkets for 4 of 8 ingredients; Belgian prices for the rest.

Directions

  1. Pulse the meat in a food processor until it becomes elastic. Cook the split peas with salt, then mash them. Grate the cooked, peeled apples.
  2. Combine the ground apples, mashed peas, meat, salt, pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, and eggs, mixing thoroughly until the mixture is sticky. ≈ 4 min
  3. Take a portion of the meat mixture, add grapes, walnuts, and fried onions, and shape it into an egg form. Fry the patties in oil.
  4. Place the meatballs in a pot. Mix the lemon juice, sugar, and water, then pour over the meatballs. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce has been absorbed.

The bill

Kermanish meatballs, filled with spiced meat

  • 200 g of yellow split peas$0.58
  • Two partially cooked potatoes$0.57
  • 2 eggs$0.70
  • salt$0.06
  • pepper$0.16
  • deep-fried oil paint$0.41
  • 250 ml of lemon juice$0.59
  • 100 grams of sugar$0.11

Total$3.18

that's $0.53 per person

Estimated price; varies by store.

Before you start

Ingredients

  • 400 g of lean meat
  • 200 g of yellow split peas
  • Two partially cooked potatoes
  • 2 eggs
  • salt
  • pepper
  • A pinch of turmeric
  • A pinch of cinnamon
  • deep-fried oil paint
  • Walnuts, grapes, and onion, for the filling.
  • 250 ml of lemon juice
  • 100 grams of sugar
  • 250 ml of water

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