Balila

Name: Balila
Prep time: 13 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 73 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Egyptian
Ingredients: 2 cups chickpeas; 1 teaspoon cumin; 2 cloves garlic; 3 tablespoons lemon juice; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon Salt and chopped parsley

Warm chickpeas with cumin, garlic, lemon and olive oil — the simplest and warmest Levantine breakfast.

Cooking time: 1 hr 13 min
Hands-on time: 13 min
Free time: 1 hr
Difficulty: Easy
Cuisine: Egyptian
Calories: 260

Balila, the mother of all chickpea appetizers: before chickpeas were mashed or tahini was whipped, it was eaten like this — warm with its broth, cumin, garlic, and lemon. A winter dish that warms the hands and the heart.

Before you start

Before you beginRead the steps completely, measure the ingredients, and prepare the tools before turning on the heat or oven.
ServingThe base can be prepared in advance, then add the toppings and crunchy ingredients before serving.

Ingredients

4people

Amounts follow the number of people

To prepare Balila

2 cups chickpeas — Soaked since the night before
1 teaspoon cumin — Plus extra for the top
2 cloves garlic — mashed
3 tablespoons lemon juice — fresh
3 tablespoons olive oil — extra-virgin
1 teaspoon Salt and chopped parsley — to taste

For a larger number of guests, double the ingredients, adding salt and acidity gradually after tasting.

Equipment

Pot for boiling — Chickpeas boiled tender and served in a little of their own liquid.

Method

Boil the chickpeas until they are completely tender.
1 hrYou can walk away
You’ll know it’s ready when
The chickpeas are very tender and the cooking liquid is pale and creamy.
Tip: After boiling, reduce the heat and monitor the liquid level to prevent it from drying out.
Scoop the chickpeas warm with a little of their broth into a deep dish.
8 min
You’ll know it’s ready when
The chickpeas are in the bowl, warm, with a little of their broth.
Tip: Check the doneness cue before moving on to the next step, rather than relying on the time alone.
Add the garlic, cumin, lemon, and salt, stir, drizzle the top with olive oil and sprinkle with cumin and parsley, and serve warm.
5 min
You’ll know it’s ready when
The mixture is homogeneous, and the flavors and texture are distributed evenly.
Tip: Mix only until homogeneous and taste before adding more salt.