Fatteh Hummus bil Lahme (Chickpea Fatteh with Meat)
A rich and flavorful dish featuring layers of toasted pita bread, chickpeas, a tahini-yogurt sauce, and topped with spiced ground meat and toasted nuts. A celebratory and hearty Palestinian classic.
🧂 Ingredients
- 3 large Pita bread(stale or lightly toasted)
- 2 cans (15 oz each) Cooked chickpeas(drained and rinsed)
- 0.5 cup Tahini
- 1 cup Plain yogurt(full-fat)
- 3 tbsp Lemon juice
- 2 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 tsp Salt(divided)
- 400 g Ground lamb or beef
- 1 medium Onion(finely chopped)
- 1 tsp Allspice
- 0.5 tsp Cinnamon
- 2 tbsp Butter or ghee
- 0.5 cup Pine nuts or slivered almonds(toasted)
- 2 tbsp Fresh parsley(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Tear the pita bread into bite-sized pieces and toast them in a single layer on a baking sheet at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes, until crisp. Alternatively, fry them in a little oil until golden.
- 2
In a large bowl, whisk together the tahini, yogurt, lemon juice, minced garlic, and 0.5 tsp salt until smooth and creamy. Add a little water if needed to reach desired consistency.
- 3
In a separate pan, heat 1 tbsp of butter or ghee over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- 4
Add the ground meat to the pan with the onions. Break it up with a spoon and cook until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
- 5
Stir in the allspice, cinnamon, and the remaining 0.5 tsp salt. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 6
To assemble, spread the toasted pita pieces in the bottom of a large serving dish. Top with the drained and rinsed chickpeas.
- 7
Pour the tahini-yogurt sauce evenly over the chickpeas and pita. Gently mix to combine.
- 8
Spoon the spiced meat mixture over the top of the fatteh.
- 9
In a small pan, melt the remaining 1 tbsp of butter or ghee. Add the toasted pine nuts or almonds and sauté for 1-2 minutes until golden and fragrant. Drizzle this over the meat.
- 10
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use slightly stale pita bread for the best crispness.
- ✓Adjust the lemon juice and garlic to your preference.
- ✓For a richer flavor, use lamb for the meat topping.
🔄 Variations
- Omit the meat for a vegetarian version (Fatteh Hummus).
- Add a layer of cooked rice before the sauce.
- Use a mix of chickpeas and fava beans.