Sour Chickpea Leek

Leek with Chickpeas and Sour Sauce

Traditional Turkish Cuisine

Leek with Chickpeas and Sour Sauce Recipe

Leek with chickpeas and sour sauce, one of the unique flavors of Turkish cuisine, holds a special place among olive oil dishes. This recipe, combining the nutritional value of chickpeas with the light sourness of leeks, is a healthy and delicious option.

⏱️ Duration 45 min

🍽️ Serving 4 people

👨‍🍳 Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

4-5 stalks of leek
1 cup chickpeas (boiled)
10 green almonds (in season)
2 oranges
1 lemon
Enough salt
Enough olive oil

Preparation

Prepare the Leeks: Slice the leeks thinly. Soak them in plenty of water, wash, and drain.
Sautéing: Heat the pot, add olive oil, and then add the leeks. Sauté the leeks for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add Green Almonds: If in season, add the green almonds, halved and pitted, at this stage.
Add Chickpeas: Then add the boiled chickpeas.
Orange and Lemon Juice: Meanwhile, squeeze the oranges and lemon separately.
Cooking: Add the orange juice and lemon juice (according to your preferred sourness). Add salt, and if necessary, add a little water and cook until the leeks are tender.
Final Touch: After removing from heat, drizzle with a little more olive oil.

💡 Important Note

I use just enough water to cook the dish because we don't prefer watery dishes. When serving, there's only the dish, no liquid. So adjust the amount of water as you prefer.

Recipe Variations

You can omit **green almonds** outside of their season or use green plums instead.
You can try a different flavor with **kidney beans** or **dried beans** instead of chickpeas.
You can add a different sourness by using **pomegranate molasses** instead of lemon.
You can add a **carrot**, diced, along with the leeks for color and flavor variety.

Pro Tips

**Soaking the leeks in plenty of water** after chopping helps remove sand and dirt.
Use **high-quality extra virgin olive oil** for the best flavor.
You can shorten the cooking time by cooking the dish over **low heat** and using a **pressure cooker**.
Enhance the flavor by adding more **olive oil and lemon** when serving.

15.07.2025