Leblebi
Encyclopedia
Leblebi is a kind of snack
made from roasted chickpea
s, very common and popular in Turkey
. It is sometimes roasted with salt, hot spices or dried clove
s. There is also a candy coated variety. Particularly, leblebi of Çorum
and Elmalı
are famous.
Chickpea
s that are used for leblebi processing must conform to some important quality criteria such as shape, size, color, and harvesting time. The shape, size, and color of chickpeas vary according to cultivars. Generally, large-seeded (8 –9 mm in diameter and 30.0 –50.0 g of 100 kernel weight), lighter-colored, round, and smooth- surface kabuli chickpeas are preferred and appropriate for leblebi processing. Also, the chickpea must have a thick seed coat and the hull must be easy to remove from kernels during leblebi processing. Furthermore, harvesting time affects the tempering process of chickpeas and quality of the final product. Eventually, cleaning and classification of chickpeas due to their size are important stages of leblebi processing. Foreign materials as well as undeveloped, damaged, shrunken, and broken chickpea seeds have to be removed during these processes to enhance quality and yield.
There are two different kinds of leblebi: dehulled leblebi (Sarı Leblebi and Girit Leblebi) and nondehulled leblebi (Beyaz Leblebi and Sakız Leblebi) in different parts of Anatolia
. It was known in Anatolia
for centuries, and from there it was introduced to North Africa
, the Middle East
, Europe
, and some Asia
n countries by Turkish people. In Turkey
, a significant amount of leblebi is produced and exported. Also, some Middle Eastern countries produce small amounts of leblebi. The main leblebi-producing regions of çorum
Furthermore, there are many more locally produced leblebi types that are produced and consumed in very small amounts in some regions of Turkey
and called depending on local customers Ağın Leblebi, çorum
Leblebi, and Mardin
Leblebi.
background history. It has been eaten since Ottoman Empire
times in Turkey
. Despite this, the literature related to the origin of leblebi, its processing characteristics, composition,and nutritive value is scarce. Although, leblebi mainly originated in Turkey
, exact details of leblebi production are not well known.
Also, the steps for all different kinds of leblebi production can be summarized as
However, it could also come from Persian word leb, meaning lip, and Arabic suffix -i, thus making leblebi, 'made for lips and lips', a word grammatically correct for Ottoman Turkish language
where mixture of Persian words and Arabic suffixes are not uncommon.
) is a popular dish, more often eaten in leblebi shops called "Hanoot Leblebi" (Hanoot is tunisian for shop), it consists of boiled chickpeas and old bread, harissa
, olive oil, olives, garlic, cumin, salt, lemon juice, often egg and optionally vinegar, capers and/or canned tuna fish. In the region of Bizerte
, it is also consumed as a sandwich. It is generally consumed in the morning, especially in cold weather.
Roasted chickpeas is a popular snack also in India
and Pakistan
.
Snack
A snack is a small portion of food eaten between meals. The food might be snack food—items like potato chips or baby carrots—but could also simply be a smaller amount of any food item.-Snacks and health:...
made from roasted chickpea
Chickpea
The chickpea is a legume of the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae...
s, very common and popular in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. It is sometimes roasted with salt, hot spices or dried clove
Clove
Cloves are the aromatic dried flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae. Cloves are native to the Maluku islands in Indonesia and used as a spice in cuisines all over the world...
s. There is also a candy coated variety. Particularly, leblebi of Çorum
Çorum
Çorum is a landlocked northern Anatolian city that is the capital of the Çorum Province of Turkey. Çorum is located inland in the central Black Sea Region of Turkey, and is approximately from Ankara and from Istanbul...
and Elmalı
Elmali
Elmalı is a town and district in Antalya Province, the Mediterranean region of Turkey. It lies about inland, near the town of Korkuteli and west of the city of Antalya...
are famous.
Chickpea
Chickpea
The chickpea is a legume of the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae...
s that are used for leblebi processing must conform to some important quality criteria such as shape, size, color, and harvesting time. The shape, size, and color of chickpeas vary according to cultivars. Generally, large-seeded (8 –9 mm in diameter and 30.0 –50.0 g of 100 kernel weight), lighter-colored, round, and smooth- surface kabuli chickpeas are preferred and appropriate for leblebi processing. Also, the chickpea must have a thick seed coat and the hull must be easy to remove from kernels during leblebi processing. Furthermore, harvesting time affects the tempering process of chickpeas and quality of the final product. Eventually, cleaning and classification of chickpeas due to their size are important stages of leblebi processing. Foreign materials as well as undeveloped, damaged, shrunken, and broken chickpea seeds have to be removed during these processes to enhance quality and yield.
There are two different kinds of leblebi: dehulled leblebi (Sarı Leblebi and Girit Leblebi) and nondehulled leblebi (Beyaz Leblebi and Sakız Leblebi) in different parts of Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
. It was known in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
for centuries, and from there it was introduced to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and some Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n countries by Turkish people. In Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, a significant amount of leblebi is produced and exported. Also, some Middle Eastern countries produce small amounts of leblebi. The main leblebi-producing regions of çorum
Çorum
Çorum is a landlocked northern Anatolian city that is the capital of the Çorum Province of Turkey. Çorum is located inland in the central Black Sea Region of Turkey, and is approximately from Ankara and from Istanbul...
Furthermore, there are many more locally produced leblebi types that are produced and consumed in very small amounts in some regions of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and called depending on local customers Ağın Leblebi, çorum
Çorum
Çorum is a landlocked northern Anatolian city that is the capital of the Çorum Province of Turkey. Çorum is located inland in the central Black Sea Region of Turkey, and is approximately from Ankara and from Istanbul...
Leblebi, and Mardin
Mardin
Mardin is a city in southeastern Turkey. The capital of Mardin Province, it is known for its Arabic-like architecture, and for its strategic location on a rocky mountain overlooking the plains of northern Syria.-History:...
Leblebi.
History
The origins of leblebi date back to 1000–1300 years A.D —nearly 1000 years ofbackground history. It has been eaten since Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
times in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Despite this, the literature related to the origin of leblebi, its processing characteristics, composition,and nutritive value is scarce. Although, leblebi mainly originated in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, exact details of leblebi production are not well known.
Methods
The methods of leblebi production were handed down from father to son. Thus, the steps in leblebi production and the equipment used may be quite different. Processing equipments for leblebi production can be summarized as- cleaning and grading equipments and
- heating equipments.
Also, the steps for all different kinds of leblebi production can be summarized as
- cleaning and grading,
- soaking,
- tempering (preheating and resting),
- boiling,
- resting,
- roasting, and
- dehulling.
Etymology
Leblebi could have come from the word leblab http://www.nisanyan.com/sozluk/search.asp?w=leblebi&x=25&y=10 in Arabic, which is a kind of ivy with edible seeds, thus 'leblebi' is 'made from leblab'.However, it could also come from Persian word leb, meaning lip, and Arabic suffix -i, thus making leblebi, 'made for lips and lips', a word grammatically correct for Ottoman Turkish language
Ottoman Turkish language
The Ottoman Turkish language or Ottoman language is the variety of the Turkish language that was used for administrative and literary purposes in the Ottoman Empire. It borrows extensively from Arabic and Persian, and was written in a variant of the Perso-Arabic script...
where mixture of Persian words and Arabic suffixes are not uncommon.
Elsewhere
In Tunisia, leblebi (also, lablabiLablabi
Lablabi is a Tunisian dish based on chick peas in a thin garlic and cumin-flavoured soup, served over small pieces of stale crusty bread. It is commonly eaten in cheap restaurants...
) is a popular dish, more often eaten in leblebi shops called "Hanoot Leblebi" (Hanoot is tunisian for shop), it consists of boiled chickpeas and old bread, harissa
Harissa
Harissa is a Tunisian hot chili sauce commonly eaten in North Africa whose main ingredients are piri piri , serrano peppers and other hot chili peppers and spices such as garlic paste, coriander, red chili powder, caraway as well as some vegetable or olive oil...
, olive oil, olives, garlic, cumin, salt, lemon juice, often egg and optionally vinegar, capers and/or canned tuna fish. In the region of Bizerte
Bizerte
Bizerte or Benzert , is the capital city of Bizerte Governorate in Tunisia and the northernmost city in Africa. It has a population of 230,879 .-History:...
, it is also consumed as a sandwich. It is generally consumed in the morning, especially in cold weather.
Roasted chickpeas is a popular snack also in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.