Hummus Musabaha

Here's another easy breakfast slash brunch recipe for those lazy mornings where you need something substantial but also easy to make.

Musabaha is the lesser known cousin of hummus (the dip) but is just as delicious and easier to make too.

It is often accompanied with our other very popular recipe, foul mudamas, where fava beans are mixed with lemon, garlic and a hint of spice.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Serving
• Top tips
• Recipe

Ingredients

Heat up a can of chickpeas (yes I said can), and keep a little of that water to loosen the musabaha.

I think it's only worth cooking the chickpeas from scratch if you are making a very big batch, for a very big brunch.

You will also need very good quality:

• Garlic
• Tahini
• Lemon juice
• Extra virgin olive oil

You can also add a pinch of kamouneh spices or if you don't have any, some ground cumin will do too.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Start by mincing the clove of garlic in a bowl. I don't even use a garlic crusher I chop it finely with a knife then squish it with a fork for good measure (less washing up).

I always find adding the salt to the garlic means it's easier to mash. Then add some of the olive oil, the tahini and lemon juice.

Gently mash around half of the chickpeas with the back of the fork (don't pulverise them) just enough to break them up.

Then plate up and drizzle on the rest of the extra virgin olive oil.

Variations

If you want to embellish your musabaha or do several versions on the same table then you can also make it:

• Spicy - If you are a spice fan add a little red chilli powder or shatta (fresh chilli paste)
• Meaty - as with hummus (the dip) you can top with a little mince meat or finely chopped fillet of meat.

Having a plate of foul mudamas on the side won't hurt either.

Equipment

I don't know why musabaha and foul taste better in little terracotta bowls you find in specialist Middle Eastern shops.

Perhaps it's because they allow you to scoop out the chickpeas perfectly.

Serving

Serve with flat breads (essential!) and a plate of fresh pickles, radishes, tomatoes and herbs (also kind of essential).

You could always freeze any extra for later.

Top tips

The secret to making good musabaha is getting the texture right. It shouldn't be too mushy or it will stick in your throat or too coarse either. Trust your instinct.

If you have no tahini to hand you could sneak in a little shop bought hummus to give that tahini flavour.

Always taste to see if you need a little more salt or lemon. Transfer to a shallow bowl and add the remaining olive oil.

Recipe