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–+ servings
traditional hummus balila in a bowl with fresh veggies and pita bread on the side.

Balila

This traditional Lebanese chickpea recipe is a breakfast and brunch staple, but is also perfect as an appetizer or a light dinner. You only need a handful of pantry ingredients and less than 30 minutes to make it!
5 from 6 votes
Author: Gladys Soriano
Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Brunch, Side Dish
Cuisine: Lebanese
Keyword: easy balila, lebanese balila, lebanese breakfast, marinated chickpeas
Servings: 4 people
Calories per serving: 333
PREP TIME 5 mins
COOK TIME 20 mins
TOTAL TIME 25 mins

EQUIPMENT

INGREDIENTS
 

  • 3 cups cooked chickpeas, or two 15 oz cans
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, more to taste
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin, more for garnish
  • ¼ cup chickpea liquid (aquafaba), or water
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, about two lemons
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, more for drizzling on top
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
  • Aleppo pepper, optional, for garnish
  • Pita bread, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Warm up the cooked chickpeas in a small sauce pan. If using canned chickpeas, transfer them with their liquid into a saucepan and simmer for 20 minutes or until very tender and creamy.
  • Crush the garlic cloves in a mortar and pestle with a pinch of salt, or use a garlic press. Place in a medium bowl with the remaining salt, ground cumin, and aquafaba.
  • Add one cup of the warm chickpeas, drained, into the bowl and mash with a pestle or masher until you have a chunky paste consistency.
  • Stir in the lemon juice, olive oil, and the remaining drained chickpeas and mix well until fully combined. Taste and adjust to your preference.
  • Transfer the balila to a shallow bowl and top with lots of olive oil and fresh, chopped parsley. You can also sprinkle more ground cumin and some aleppo pepper if desired. Serve warm with pita bread and fresh veggies.

NOTES

Canned chickpeas: Choose low sodium in order to control the salt in the balila, or if using the regular kind, don't add all the salt in the recipe at once.

NUTRITION

Calories: 333kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 883mg | Potassium: 404mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 47IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and may vary.
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