Esh bil Laban

Name: Esh bil Laban
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Chadian
Ingredients: 4 rounds flatbread, torn into pieces; 500ml plain yogurt; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 3 tbsp butter; 1 tsp cumin seeds; 1/2 tsp salt; Fresh mint leaves; 1 tbsp lemon juice

عيش بالل بن (aysh bil la-BAN)

Bread with Yogurt Sauce

⏱ Prep Time 20 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 317 kcal

Torn pieces of flatbread soaked in a tangy, garlicky yogurt sauce with a drizzle of spiced butter. This refreshing Chadian dish from the northern regions combines the simplicity of bread with the cooling richness of fermented dairy.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 12.0g

Carbs 38.0g

Fat 13.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ gluten ⚠ dairy

Equipment Needed

mixing bowl small saucepan serving bowl

Ingredients

4 rounds flatbread, torn into pieces
500ml plain yogurt
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp butter
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp salt
Fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

1
Tear flatbread into bite-sized pieces and spread them across the bottom of a large serving bowl.
2
Mix yogurt with minced garlic, salt, and lemon juice. Whisk until smooth and evenly combined.
3
Pour the seasoned yogurt mixture over the torn bread pieces, ensuring all the bread is well coated and beginning to soften.
4
Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and cook until fragrant and the butter begins to brown slightly.
5
Drizzle the spiced butter over the yogurt-soaked bread. The sizzle of hot butter on cool yogurt is part of the experience.
6
Garnish with fresh mint leaves and serve immediately while the contrast of hot butter and cool yogurt is still vivid.

💡

Did You Know?

This dish shows the culinary influence of Arab culture in northern Chad, where dairy-based dishes are more common than in the south due to the pastoral nomadic lifestyle.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

mixing bowl
small saucepan
serving bowl

The Story Behind Esh bil Laban

Esh bil laban reflects the strong Arab cultural influence in northern Chad, where nomadic and semi-nomadic communities have relied on dairy products for centuries. The dish connects Chad to a broader tradition of bread-and-yogurt combinations found across the Arab world, adapted with local Chadian touches. In the harsh desert climate of northern Chad, the cooling yogurt provides essential refreshment and nutrition.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed breakfast or light dinner 📜 Origins: Arab-influenced northern Chadian cuisine

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Esh bil Laban

Nutrition & Info

Dietary

Allergen Warnings

Equipment Needed

Instructions

Did You Know?

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

The Story Behind Esh bil Laban

Comments (0)

More Chadian Dishes

Alloco

Banda

Boko Boko

Boule