Tasqiyeh (Chickpea Fatteh with Olive Oil)

Ingredients

• 2 cups bread rolls or regular bread, torn into squares
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 cups cooked chickpeas
• 2 cups chickpea cooking liquid
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 2 garlic cloves
• Almonds, pine nuts and ghee for frying and garnish
• Parsley
• A pinch of cumin for the top

Method

1. Mix the bread with the chickpeas.
2. In a blender, combine the olive oil, cumin, salt, garlic and the boiling chickpea liquid with the baking soda, and blend until the mixture turns white (this is the tasqiyeh).
3. Pour it over the bread right away, keeping it loose rather than fully absorbed. Garnish with chickpeas, cumin, parsley, pine nuts and almonds, and adjust the salt.

Notes

To cook the chickpeas: soak overnight, rinse well, boil in water with 1/2 tsp baking soda, skim off all the white foam, and simmer about an hour until tender.