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Dawood Basha
Main Courses & Grill

Dawood Basha – meatballs in tomato sauce

A dish named after a pasha that tastes like a family kitchen: Dawood Basha is Levantine comfort food.

16,90 €

Tender meatballs, fragrantly seasoned and gently simmered in a full-bodied tomato sauce until they carry the aroma of ripe, sun-kissed tomatoes. Served over fluffy rice and accompanied by fresh mint and a crisp side salad. Dawood Basha is Levantine comfort food at its warmest: hearty, juicy and bursting with flavour in every single forkful.

Allergens
Gluten-containing cereals (wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut) · Tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecan, Brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamia)

Price, photo and allergens come straight from our till and are always up to date.

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Meatballs in tomato sauce turn up in almost every kitchen around the Mediterranean. In Syria, Lebanon and Palestine they’re called Dawood Basha – after a pasha who supposedly liked them so much that the dish ended up with his name. Ours comes on a bed of rice.

A name from Ottoman times

Tradition has it that the name goes back to Dawud Pasha, who served as Ottoman governor of Lebanon in the 19th century. Whether he really loved the meatballs that much is impossible to say – but the name has stuck right across the Levant.

Braised, not fried

The meatballs are fragrantly spiced and gently braised in a rich tomato sauce. As they cook, they take on the flavour of the sauce, and the sauce takes on the flavour of the meat. The rice underneath soaks it all up, while fresh mint and a crunchy side salad lighten things up.

How it differs from similar dishes

If you prefer your minced meat off the grill, go for the Dunya kebab. If you’d like to try minced meat and bulgur in a yoghurt sauce, order kibbeh bil laban. Dawood Basha is the braised version, with tomato.

Starters and families

Hummus or moutabal with warm bread are a good way to start. Because Dawood Basha tastes so familiar, it’s also a great first dish for guests who are new to Arabic food – whether in the restaurant or at a party with our catering.

FAQ

Good to know

Where does the name come from?

According to tradition, from Dawud Pasha, a 19th-century Ottoman governor of Lebanon who is said to have been especially fond of these meatballs.

Is the meat halal?

Yes, all the meat at Dunya is halal.

How is Dawood Basha served?

The meatballs come in tomato sauce on fluffy rice, with fresh mint and a side salad.

Is Dawood Basha the same as kofta?

They’re related – both are spiced minced meat. Kofta is usually grilled, whereas Dawood Basha is rolled into balls and braised in tomato sauce.