Blehat Lahma

Description
Lamb loaves with apricots and egg
 * Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

 * 2 lbs ground lamb shoulder
 * 12 dried apricots, coarsely chopped, soaked in hot water for 5 minutes, drained
 * 1 onion, finely chopped
 * ¼ cup pine nuts
 * 1 tsp each ground cinnamon and ground allspice
 * salt and pepper to taste
 * 2 hard-cooked eggs, with shells removed
 * 1 cup tomato paste, canned
 * 1 cup water

Directions

 * 1) Preheat oven to 350°F.
 * 2) Put lamb, apricots, onion, pine nuts, cinnamon, allspice, and salt and pepper to taste in mixing bowl.
 * 3) Mix well, using clean hand or wooden spoon.
 * 4) Divide the mixture in half and shape each half into a loaf around an egg.
 * 5) Put the loaves side-by-side in the baking pan.
 * 6) Mix tomato paste with water and pour over the loaves.
 * 7) Put loaves in oven and bake for about 45 minutes or until meat is cooked.
 * 8) Baste frequently with the tomato sauce to keep loaves moist.
 * 9) To serve the loaves, cool to room temperature and cut into thick slices.
 * 10) Blehat lahma makes an excellent filling for sandwiches.