A comforting and satisfying meal can be created with warm, creamy chickpeas paired with a fresh and spicy tomato salad, all accompanied by soft homemade flatbreads. This dish is centered around chickpeas that are gently heated instead of blended, resulting in a rustic texture that harmonizes well with tahini, yogurt, lemon, and aromatic spices. The combination of flavors makes for a delightful culinary experience.
To prepare the chickpeas, two 400g cans are drained and placed in a saucepan with enough water to cover them, then simmered gently over medium heat for about five minutes. After draining, around 300ml of the cooking liquid is reserved. In a separate bowl, a salad consisting of 150g halved cherry tomatoes, finely diced cucumber and red pepper, fresh coriander, spring onions, and a green chili is mixed. This is complemented with crushed garlic, lemon juice, white-wine vinegar, olive oil, sumac, dried mint, Aleppo chili, and salt to taste.
For the chickpeas, olive oil is heated in a saucepan, and crushed garlic is cooked until lightly golden. Chopped chili is then added, followed by chickpeas, the reserved cooking liquid, cumin, tahini, yogurt, lemon juice, and salt. The mixture is brought to a boil, reduced to a simmer, and cooked gently for about two minutes with occasional stirring. Once ready, the warm chickpeas are transferred to a serving dish, drizzled with tahini and olive oil, and topped with the spicy tomato salad. A sprinkle of Aleppo chili completes the dish, which is best served with warm flatbreads.
The flatbreads are prepared using a mix of full-fat Greek yogurt, bicarbonate of soda, 00 or plain flour, wholewheat flour, ground turmeric, nigella seeds, salt, water, and melted ghee or butter. The dough is kneaded until soft, divided into eight portions, and left to rest. Each portion is rolled out and cooked on a hot grill or frying pan until marked with light char spots. Brushed with melted ghee or butter, these golden flatbreads are kept warm until serving.
This meal is a wonderful way to enjoy the rich flavors of musabaha and spicy tomato salad. The flatbreads serve as the perfect accompaniment, allowing diners to scoop up the chickpeas and salad for a simple, yet flavorful dining experience.