A comforting and hearty dish, Musabaha, accompanied by a spicy cherry tomato and coriander salad, offers a delightful culinary experience. Central to the meal are warm, creamy chickpeas that maintain a rustic texture, enhanced with tahini, yogurt, lemon, and aromatic spices, rather than being blended. The meal is complete with soft, homemade flatbreads, providing a satisfying base for scooping up the flavorful ingredients.
Preparing the chickpeas requires two 400g cans, drained and gently simmered in water for about five minutes. After draining, reserve 300ml of the cooking liquid. Heat olive oil in a saucepan and sauté crushed garlic until golden, then add chopped green chili. The chickpeas, along with the reserved liquid, cumin, tahini, yogurt, lemon juice, and salt, are then combined and simmered for a couple of minutes to meld the flavors.
For the vibrant salad, mix halved cherry tomatoes, finely diced cucumber, red pepper, and fresh coriander. Thinly sliced spring onions and green chili, along with crushed garlic, are added for depth. Dress the salad with lemon juice, white-wine vinegar, olive oil, sumac, dried mint, Aleppo chili, and a pinch of salt, ensuring the flavors are thoroughly combined. This fresh, spicy salad is served atop the warm chickpeas, drizzled with additional tahini and olive oil, and finished with a sprinkle of Aleppo chili.
The turmeric and nigella seed flatbreads are made by combining full-fat Greek yogurt and bicarbonate of soda, allowing it to bubble, then adding water, 00 flour, wholewheat flour, turmeric, nigella seeds, and salt to form a soft dough. After resting, the dough is divided, rolled out, and cooked on a hot grill or frying pan for one to two minutes on each side. Brushing with melted ghee or butter while warm adds a rich finish.
Served immediately, the golden flatbreads are perfect for tearing apart and using to scoop up the musabaha and salad. This meal, with its blend of warm chickpeas and vibrant salad, offers a simple yet flavorful dining experience that is both satisfying and nourishing.
