Rafed English
site.site_name : Rafed English

Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Serves: 2

Ingredients:

garlic cloves
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt ( to taste)
2 teaspoons lemon juice ( about 1/4 lemon)
1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
2 1/2 cups whole milk yogurt ( I use Balkan)
olive oil, to fry pita bread
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons pine nuts
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried mint

Directions:

1- Rinse the chickpeas and rub them very lightly between your hands to remove as many of the skins as possible. (I pull off each one ahead of time for a love soft bite) Warm them in a small cooking pot with 1/4 inch water over very low heat. Add more water if necessary.

2- In a mortar, mash the garlic and salt together with a pestle until they make a smooth paste. Add the lemon juice and stir until you have a loose slurry. Set aside.

3- Take half of the lemon-garlic mixture and put it in a second bowl. Add the tahini and mix until smooth. Add the yogurt and whisk until fully combined. Set aside.

4- Fry the pita halves until just golden brown in a little olive oil. When they are cool enough to handle, break them into bite-sized pieces—roughly ½-inch squares or triangles. Set aside half of them. Layer the other half on the bottom of a serving bowl.

5- Pour the chickpeas with their cooking liquid into the bowl with the remaining lemon-garlic slurry. Mix them until coated thoroughly, mashing about half the beans with the pestle. Dump them in your serving bowl on top of the toasted bread. Top with the yogurt mixture.

6- Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat with the 1 tbs olive oil. Add the pine nuts and toast, shaking the pan so they cook evenly, until golden brown. Add the paprika and cumin and stir gently to coat. Dump the nuts on top of the yogurt and top with the remaining toasted bread. Garnish with dried mint.

7-Enjoy!