Leblebi (Turkish: leblebi; Mesopotamian Arabic: لبلبي, romanized: leblebi; Arabic: قضامة, romanizedQdameh, Qudamah; Persian: نخودچی, romanizedNokhodchi; Sicilian: Càlia; Greek: στραγάλι;[3] Armenian: լեբլեբու[4]Bulgarian: леблебия)[citation needed] is a snack made from roasted chickpeas, common and popular in Iran, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria and sometimes seasoned with salt, hot spices, dried cloves, or candy coated. In Aromanian it is known as nibilbé. In Tunisia, the term refers to a very popular chickpea-based breakfast soup which also includes egg and stale bread.

Leblebi
Leblebi, dehulled
TypeSnack
Main ingredientsChickpeas
Leblebi, nondehulled
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy1,493 kJ (357 kcal)
58.06 g
Dietary fiber7.74 g
5.04 g
Saturated0.74 g
19.94 g
Vitamins and minerals
Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[1] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[2]

Chickpeas used for leblebi are selected for shape, size, color, and harvesting time, and vary by cultivar. Generally, large-seeded (8–9 mm in diameter and 30–50 g of 100 kernel weight [clarification needed]), lighter-colored, round, and smooth surfaced Kabuli chickpeas are preferred; a thick seed coat and hull, easy to remove from the kernel is requisite. Harvesting time determines the tempering process and quality of leblebi; chickpeas are cleaned and classified by size, with undeveloped, damaged, shrunken, and broken chickpeas discarded.

There are two different kinds of leblebi-dehulled leblebi (Sarı Leblebi and Girit Leblebi) and nondehulled leblebi (Beyaz Leblebi and Sakız Leblebi)-introduced from Anatolia to North Africa, the Middle East, Europe by Turks. Production ranges from Turkey to the Middle East. In Turkey, the primary leblebi-producing region is Çorum, with a few additional local varieties such as Ağın Leblebi, Çorum Leblebi, and Mardin Leblebi.

History

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Record of the origins of leblebi are scarce, though it is thought to date back to 1000–1500 CE in Iran.

Methods

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The methods of leblebi production are an inherited tradition, with the steps and the equipment used varying. Utensils generally include tools for cleaning, grading, and heating, with preparation as follows:

  1. cleaning and grading
  2. soaking
  3. tempering (preheating and resting)
  4. boiling
  5. resting
  6. roasting
  7. dehulling

Etymology

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Leblebi likely comes from the Arabic word leblab (لبلاب), referring to Lablab, a domesticated pulse with edible beans – thus 'leblebi' means 'made from leblab'.

Trivia

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Ottoman-Armenian composer Tigran Chukhajian (1837–1898) composed an operetta titled Leblebidji Hor-Hor Agha (The Chickpea Vendor) in 1875.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". FDA. Archived from the original on 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  2. ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). ISBN 978-0-309-48834-1. PMID 30844154. Archived from the original on 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  3. ^ "Στραγάλι: το σνακ που είναι υπερτροφή - toklasikon.gr".
  4. ^ "Հայկական խոհանոցի բառարան, Վահագն Ադամյան եւ Ժասմեն Բաբայան".
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  Media related to Leblebi at Wikimedia Commons