Usban

Name: Usban
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 210 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Libyan
Ingredients: 1 lamb tripe, cleaned thoroughly; 1 cup rice, rinsed; 200g lamb liver, finely diced; 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped; 1 bunch fresh mint, chopped; 1 onion, finely diced; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1 tsp turmeric; 1 tsp bzaar spice; 1/2 tsp cinnamon; Salt and pepper; Kitchen string

عصبان (OOS-bahn)

Libyan Stuffed Tripe Sausage

⏱ Prep Time 3 hours

📈 Difficulty Hard

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 468 kcal

Lamb tripe stuffed with a fragrant mixture of rice, herbs, liver, and spices, then slow-simmered until tender. This traditional Libyan delicacy is reserved for special occasions.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 28.0g

Carbs 35.0g

Fat 24.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free gluten-free nut-free

Equipment Needed

large pot needle and thread mixing bowl

Presentation Guide

Vessel: deep platter

Garnishes: fresh herbs, lemon wedges

Accompaniments: cooking broth, bread

Ingredients

1 lamb tripe, cleaned thoroughly
1 cup rice, rinsed
200g lamb liver, finely diced
1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
1 bunch fresh mint, chopped
1 onion, finely diced
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp bzaar spice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Salt and pepper
Kitchen string

Instructions

1
Clean the lamb tripe extremely thoroughly, scrubbing with salt and rinsing multiple times until perfectly clean.
2
Mix rice, diced liver, parsley, mint, onion, tomato paste, turmeric, bzaar, cinnamon, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
3
Stuff the tripe loosely with the filling (rice will expand). Sew the opening shut with kitchen string or a needle and thread.
4
Place the stuffed tripe in a large pot of salted water. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
5
Simmer for 2-2.5 hours, checking occasionally, until the tripe is tender and the rice inside is fully cooked.
6
Remove carefully, let rest 10 minutes, then slice into thick rounds and serve with the cooking broth.

💡

Did You Know?

Preparing usban is a communal event during Eid al-Adha, with entire families working together in an assembly line to clean, stuff, and sew.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large pot
needle and thread
mixing bowl

Garnishing

fresh herbs, lemon wedges

Accompaniments

cooking broth, bread

The Story Behind Usban

Usban is Libya's ultimate celebratory dish, deeply tied to Eid al-Adha when families sacrifice a lamb and use every part of the animal. The tradition of stuffing tripe with rice and offal reflects the pastoral nomadic heritage of Libya's interior, where wasting any part of a slaughtered animal was unthinkable. The dish demands skill, patience, and communal effort, making it a powerful symbol of family unity and cultural continuity.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed eid al-adha, celebrations 📜 Origins: Ancient pastoral

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