Recipe: Balila

Balila is a popular breakfast dish for workers in Lebanon. This simple dish only requires a few minutes and ingredients, but is still a filling meal to start the day with.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans of Talia’s Chickpeas, drained
• Water
• Olive oil
• 4 cloves of garlic
• Salt
• 2 lemons, juiced
• Ground cumin

Instructions:

1. Add the drained chickpeas into a saucepan with just enough water to cover the top of the beans. Simmer for 30 minutes until soft. Lightly mash some of the chickpeas to get a thick, soupy consistency.
2. In a mortar and pestle, grind the garlic with a pinch of salt until you get a paste.
3. Add the garlic paste and lemon juice to the chickpeas. Mix and drizzle with olive oil. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
4. Sprinkle with cumin on top and serve with pita.

*Original recipe from Taste of Beirut.