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Mixed bean salad balela served in a white bowl.
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Middle Eastern Bean Salad - Balela

This mixed bean salad is a very popular Middle Eastern-style salad known as Balela. It's a delicious vegan and gluten-free salad that's loaded with vegetables, fresh herbs, and other Arabic flavors. This hearty salad can be enjoyed as a complete meal and is perfect to be packed for lunch, picnic, and potlucks.
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Middle East
Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Making Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 5
Calories 232kcal

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups cooked chickpeas
  • 1.5 cups red kidney beans
  • 1 cucumber preferably Persian cucumber
  • 1 medium sized tomato
  • 1 medium sized red onion
  • 1 bell pepper any color is fine
  • ½ cup fresh parsley roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh mint leaves roughly chopped
  • 2-3 garlic cloves minced
  • 3-4 tablespoons lemon juice adjust to taste
  • 1 tablespoon sumac
  • ½ teaspoon red chili powder adjust to taste
  • Salt to taste
  • Ground black pepper to taste
  • 2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  • Finely chop all the vegetables.
  • Put the beans, chopped vegetables, herbs, garlic, sumac, red chili powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
  • Drizzle some olive oil and lemon juice. Toss and enjoy!

Notes

  1. Other beans like black beans, black-eyed beans, and white beans can also be used in this recipe.
  2. You may also add pitted olives to this salad.
  3. Instead of regular tomatoes, cherry tomatoes can be used too.
  4. To add some heat, add chili flakes.
  5. For more flavor, you can add roasted cumin powder and za'atar.
  6. Don't overcook the beans otherwise, they will turn mushy.
  7. If using canned beans, rinse them to get rid of the metallic taste.
  8. More recipe tips and tricks are given within the post above. Please follow them to make this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 17mg | Potassium: 643mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1668IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 4mg