Balilah

Balilah is a traditional Middle Eastern salad, particularly popular in Saudi Arabia and Syria. It is a simple and healthy snack made primarily from cooked chickpeas. The chickpeas are typically served warm with diced cucumbers and grated beets, and seasoned with a mixture of spices, lemon juice, olive oil, and sometimes garlic and herbs.

The core ingredient is chickpeas (in Syria broad beans are also included), which are cooked until tender and then flavored with lemon juice, olive oil, cumin, salt, and sometimes other spices like black pepper, sumac, or paprika. Garlic and fresh herbs, such as parsley, are added for extra flavor.

Balilah is usually served warm as a snack or appetizer, often enjoyed as a popular street food and eaten with a spoon or scooped up with bread. It is commonly enjoyed during Ramadan as part of the iftar meal (the meal to break the fast) due to its simplicity and nutritious qualities.