Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009

Learn to prepare a kefta sandwich

Sylvia Saad, the owner and chef of Mario’s Restaurant & Pop on Broadway, demonstrates how to make a kefta sandwich in an online video at videos.ledger-enquirer.com.

The Jerusalem-born Saad and her husband, George, moved to Columbus 30 years ago. The restaurant is named for their second-born son, Mario, who renovated the space above his father’s clothing store.

Here is the recipe:

KEFTA SANDWICH

1 pound ground beef (chuck or round)

1 bunch parsley, cleaned, washed and dried

1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves

Salt and pepper to taste

Dash of cinnamon

Dash of nutmeg

Dash of Allspice

Romaine lettuce

Tahini sauce (available at most grocery stores)

Vegetable oil to cook the meat patties

Pita bread

Chop the parsley, onion and garlic into very fine pieces.

In a mixing bowl, put the beef, parsley, garlic and onion.

Mix well. Add the spices

Make the meat mixture into small, oblong patties.

Coat a skillet with vegetable oil and get it hot. Cook the patties well.

Warm pita bread. Cut it in half.

In the pita pocket, put in romaine lettuce and pickles. Add the patties and drizzle the tahini sauce inside the pocket.