Gulf

Traditional Gulf Balila

A warm and nourishing Balila dish made of tender boiled chickpeas seasoned with cumin, vinegar, and lemon—an ideal choice for a healthy, satisfying breakfast.

1 h 15 min 4 servings 210 cal/serving Easy 6 views
Traditional Gulf Balila

Instructions

  1. Bringing to a Boil
    Place the soaked and drained chickpeas in a deep pot and cover with fresh water over high heat until it comes to a boil. · 10 min
  2. Simmering the Chickpeas
    Skim off the foam rising to the surface, then cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and leave the chickpeas to cook until completely tender. · 50 min
  3. Seasoning
    Add the salt and cumin to the chickpeas and their cooking liquid, and let it simmer gently for an additional ten minutes to absorb the flavors. · 10 min
  4. Serving
    Ladle the hot Balila with a little of its cooking broth into serving bowls, and top each portion with vinegar, lemon juice, an extra sprinkle of cumin, chili powder, and pickles as desired.

Nutrition / serving

210
cal
11.5
protein g
35
carbs g
3.5
fat g

Chef's tips

For an exceptionally tender texture, do not add salt until the chickpeas are fully cooked, and you can add a quarter teaspoon of baking soda during soaking to speed up cooking.