Sabich — Israeli Pita Sandwich

About This Recipe

Sabich is Tel Aviv's most distinctive street food: a pita packed with slices of fried aubergine, hard-boiled egg, hummus, tahini sauce, Israeli salad (diced tomato and cucumber), pickles and — most importantly — amba, a tangy mango pickle sauce that gives the sandwich its characteristic sweet-sour depth. It was created by Iraqi Jewish immigrants to Israel, who adapted their Shabbat breakfast tradition (cold cooked food prepared the day before) into a street food. The combination of crispy fried aubergine, creamy egg yolk, nutty tahini and the funky tang of amba is one of the great sandwich combinations in the world. The key to a great sabich, say those who know, is generosity — stuff it until it can barely close.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 2 largeaubergines(sliced 1cm thick)
• 4eggs(hard-boiled)
• 4 largepita breads
• 200 ghummus
• 3 tablespoonstahini(thinned with water and lemon)
• 2 mediumtomatoes(finely diced)
• 1 mediumcucumber(finely diced)
• 1 small bunchflat parsley(finely chopped)
• 3 tablespoonsamba sauce(mango pickle sauce)
• 4 tablespoonsvegetable oil(for frying)
• 1 teaspoonsalt

Instructions

1. 1

   Fry the aubergine

   Salt aubergine slices and leave 10 minutes, then pat dry. Fry in oil over medium-high heat for 3–4 minutes per side until deep golden. Drain on paper towels.

2. 2

   Make Israeli salad

   Finely dice tomato and cucumber into 5mm cubes. Mix with parsley, a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt.

3. 3

   Prepare tahini

   Whisk tahini with lemon juice and cold water until it becomes a pourable, creamy sauce. Season with salt.

4. 4

   Build the sabich

   Warm pita bread. Spread a generous layer of hummus inside. Add fried aubergine slices, sliced hard-boiled egg, Israeli salad, a drizzle of tahini and a spoonful of amba. Eat immediately while warm.

Variations

• •

  Add pickled red cabbage or fried cauliflower for extra texture.

• •

  Zhug (green chilli sauce) is a popular addition for heat lovers.

• •

  Vegetarian: swap the protein for roasted king oyster mushrooms, smoked tofu or cooked chickpeas — adjust seasoning slightly upward to compensate.

• •

  Spicier: add a finely chopped fresh chile or a teaspoon of crushed Aleppo/Urfa pepper to the aromatics for warm, layered heat instead of a single sharp hit.

Storage

All components can be prepared ahead. Assemble only when ready to eat.

Frequently Asked Questions