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Nohat shurak

Nohat shurak: Tashkent street chickpeas with vinegared onion and chilli

At bazaars like Chorsu in Tashkent, vendors sell nohat shurak from big steaming pots: chickpeas boiled with salt until soft but whole, scooped into bowls and topped with thinly sliced onion soaked in vinegar, chilli, and sometimes a sprinkle of cumin. It is a cheap, filling snack, eaten with a spoon standing at the stall. A common mistake is adding salt at the start, which can keep the skins tough. Chef's tip: soak the onion in vinegar and a little water for 20 minutes; it softens and turns sweet-sharp, which is the whole point of the dish.
Total time
90 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

For the chickpeas

  • 9 oz dried chickpeassoaked overnight
  • 8 ¼ cups water
  • ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 ½ tsp salt

For the topping

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Method

0/4 done
  1. Step 1: Drain 9 oz dried chickpeas, cover with 8 ¼ cups water, add ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda and bring to the boil. Skim the foam.

    10 min
  2. Step 2: Simmer for 1 hour, until soft and creamy inside but still whole. Add 1 ½ tsp salt in the last 15 minutes. Common mistake: salting early; the skins stay tough.

    60 min
  3. Step 3: Mix 1 red or white onion with 3 tbsp white wine vinegar and 3 tbsp water and leave for 20 minutes.

  4. Step 4: Ladle chickpeas with a little cooking liquid into bowls. Top with the drained onion, ½ tsp dried chilli flakes and ¼ tsp ground cumin.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
260 kcal
Protein
12 g
Carbs
38 g
Fat
7 g
Fibre
10 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does nohat shurak take?
About 90 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 75 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegan?
Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
What can I use instead of dried chickpeas?
Cannellini or butter beans, same amount.
What can I use instead of bicarbonate of soda?
Baking powder, three times the amount (the bake may taste slightly different).

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