Author Notes
People might think of Tunisia as a tropical place, but the fall and winter months can get quite damp and cold.
While dining out isn't a huge part of Tunisian culture, street food and fast food are popular throughout the country- from roadside mechoui stands to crêpe counters to melaoui carts.
And then there's lablebi: the quintessential Tunisian fast food. Now don't let the "fast food" label turn you off. It's prepared quickly in casual cafeteria-style joints but the food is anything but unhealthy. Lablebi is traditionally served quite simply, as it's a dish meant to provide sustenance for cold days, using frugal ingredients. Chickpeas and their spiced broth provide a hearty dose of protein and stale bread is brought back to life in the liquid. Over the years, the dish has evolved into an "instagram-worthy" bowl of various colorful toppings, all which add to the deliciousness of lablebi. —Our Tunisian Table
Ingredients
-
2 cups
whole dry chickpeas
-
3.5-4 cups
water
-
1 teaspoon
cumin
-
1 teaspoon
salt
-
1/2 teaspoon
black pepper
-
2
poached eggs
-
1
can of quality tuna
-
harissa/red pepper flakes, to your taste
-
1 handful
stale bread torn into pieces
-
couple splashes
olive oil, to finish
Directions
-
Place chickpeas in a large bowl and add water. Allow the chickpeas to soak overnight. Make sure chickpeas are fully covered by the water.
-
Pour the chickpeas and the water they soaked in into a pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, partially cover and allow to simmer until very tender. Skim any foam that may develop at the surface.
*Note: This may take 30-40 minutes, but you will know they are done when you can easily smash them between your fingers and some of the skins start to separate from the chickpeas.
-
Once the chickpeas are fully cooked, add the salt, pepper, and cumin. Stir and remove from heat.
-
Serve hot in a bowl and add your preferred garnish. You can go simple and traditional with just pepper flakes and a drizzle of olive oil. Or go all out and add the stale bread to soak up the broth, a generous spoonful of harissa, some good quality Tunisian tuna, and a poached egg to top it all off. Enjoy!
See what other Food52ers are saying.