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Vegetarian, Maghreb and Middle East

Sabich

Sabich is an Israeli sandwich made of pita stuffed with fried eggplant, hard boiled egg, hummus, tomato and cucumber salad, and tahini sauce. It serves 4, takes 40 minutes, is an easy recipe, and costs about €2.20 per person. The key is frying the eggplant in hot enough oil so it stays soft inside and turns golden outside.

Sabich, the Israeli pita stuffed with fried eggplant, hard boiled egg, hummus and tahini, a sandwich you eat with both hands.

Sabich
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.20
Calories per person
590 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Sabich brings together the crunch of fried eggplant, the softness of hard boiled egg, and the creaminess of hummus and tahini, all packed into a warm pita. The fresh tomato and cucumber salad and the tang of pickles cut through the richness, so every bite has several textures at once. It's a generous sandwich meant to be eaten with both hands, no utensils needed.

It's a great choice for a weeknight when you want something simple but full of flavor, or for a weekend lunch shared with others. Kids usually enjoy filling their own pita, which turns the meal into a fun hands on moment at the table. Mon Chou offers this balanced version that's quick without skimping on taste, so it fits easily into your routine.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Eggplant 2
  • Lemon 1
  • Tomatoes 2
  • Cucumber 1
  • Parsley 1 bunch

Dairy

  • Eggs 4
  • Hummus 200 g

Pantry

  • Tahini 3 tbsp
  • Pickles 4
  • Sunflower oiloften in the pantry 10 cl
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Bakery

  • Pita bread 4

Allergens Gluten, Eggs, Sesame

The step by step recipe

  1. Slice the eggplant into rounds, salt them, and let them sit to release moisture. 10 min

    Pat them dry well before frying to avoid oil splatters.

  2. Hard boil the eggs, peel them, and slice them into rounds. 10 min

    Cool them in cold water, the shell comes off without tearing the egg white.

  3. Fry the eggplant in hot oil until golden, then drain. 10 min

    Make sure the oil is hot enough, otherwise the eggplant soaks up too much oil.

  4. Make the sauce by mixing the tahini, lemon, a little water, salt and pepper.

    Whisk until you get a smooth, slightly runny cream.

  5. Fill the warm pitas with hummus, eggplant, egg, tomato and cucumber salad, then drizzle with tahini sauce.

    Warm the pitas first, they open without tearing.

Our tips to get it right

  • Cut the eggplant into thick rounds about one centimeter wide, too thin and they turn mushy, too thick and the center stays raw.
  • Make the tahini sauce right before serving since it thickens as it sits, thin it out with a splash of water if needed.
  • Fill the pitas at the last minute so they don't go soft, especially if you're serving several people at once.

The variations

  • Swap the classic hummus for beet or split pea hummus to change up the color and flavor.
  • For a faster version, use hard boiled eggs made ahead of time and oven roasted eggplant instead of frying.
  • For kids, serve the fillings separately in small bowls and let them build their own pita.

What to serve it with

  • A tangy white cabbage salad
  • Homemade pickled vegetables
  • Fresh mint tea

Storage

Store the fried eggplant and tahini sauce separately in the fridge for up to 2 days in a sealed container. Only fill the pitas right before serving, since they soften quickly. Reheat the fried eggplant for a few minutes in a pan or oven to bring back some crispness.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the eggplant ahead of time?

Yes, fry it a few hours ahead and reheat it in the oven before filling the pitas. It loses a bit of crispness but still tastes good.

Can you replace tahini if you don't have any?

You can use lemony yogurt instead, which gives a fresher, less creamy result. The flavor won't be quite the same, but the sandwich still works well.

Can you bake the eggplant instead of frying it?

Yes, brush the rounds with oil and bake them in a hot oven until golden. They'll be lighter but less soft inside.

Is sabich served hot or cold?

Traditionally, the eggplant and egg are served warm while the salad and sauce stay cool. That contrast in temperature is part of what makes the sandwich enjoyable.

How long does it take to make a sabich pita sandwich?

Count 40 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a sabich pita sandwich?

About 590 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a sabich pita sandwich cost?

About €2.20 per serving, or €8.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, eggs, sesame. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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