Sabich Sandwich

Homemade Sabich will make you feel like you’re having breakfast in Israel! The ingredients in this Israeli recipe are simple. Make Sabich with fried eggplant, hummus, tomato and cucumber salad, tahini sauce, Israeli pickles, and a 6-minute egg, all stuffed into a pita pocket. Amba sauce is traditional in this sandwich.

Are you ready for a dish that we cannot get enough of? Sabich has an incredible balance of flavor and textures. It’s filling, and nutritious, and everything can be made ahead of time. This lets you have a hearty breakfast, lunch, or dinner with minimal morning prep! Here's how to make it!

What is Sabich?

Sabich is a breakfast sandwich Sabich of Iraqi origin, was brought to Israel by Iraqi Jews who settled in  Ramat Gan, a Tel Aviv suburb. It’s often enjoyed on Shabbat mornings, but it’s also delicious any day of the week! Sabich is a vegetarian sandwich made with fried eggplant, hard-boiled egg, hummus, Israeli pickles, Israeli salad, and Amba (spiced pickled mango chutney) all stuffed into a pita pocket. It also may include other ingredients such as shredded cabbage, boiled potatoes, and onions. There’s no one way to make this popular sandwich but they’re all incredibly satisfying!

Sabich Vs. Falafel

If we had to pick two of the most popular Israeli street foods, it would be Falafel and Sabich sandwiches. They both taste differently, but some ingredients are common.

Falafel is the most famous Middle Eastern sandwich! Our classic Falafel with Tahini Sauce is a go-to that everyone loves. Falafel balls are traditionally fried and are made with soaked dry chickpeas, herbs, and spices,  layered in a pita with fresh cucumber, tomatoes, hummus, and topped with tahini sauce and if you wish hot sauce or Schug.  

Sabich is also a pita bread sandwich made with a tomato-cucumber parsley salad dressed simply with olive oil and lemon juice, hummus, tahini sauce, topped with Israeli pickles. But instead of falafel Sabich has a protein-rich hard-boiled egg and the addition of fried eggplant slices that takes this sandwich to a whole new level of deliciousness! One of the reasons Sabich became a Shabbat food is because observant Jews don’t cook on the Sabbath and Sabich is a dish that is delicious when eaten cold.

What is Amba?

Another feature that separates Sabich from Falafel is the addition of Amba. Amba is a savory spicy pickled mango chutney that adds a really interesting and bright flavor to this pita sandwich! You can find Amba in specialty or Middle Eastern markets, but if you can’t, mango chutney is a good alternative, but it's sweeter than Amba. Since Amba isn’t our favorite condiment, we usually leave it out, but give it a try and let us know what you think.

How to Make Sabich Sandwich

We were tempted to try this Sabich recipe with roasted eggplant instead of fried eggplant, but we decided to go the traditional route and fry eggplant for this recipe. To prevent the eggplant from absorbing too much oil, we salted the eggplant slices and let them sit in a colander before frying. Have a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb any excess oil and sprinkle some salt while the eggplant slices are still hot if you feel it needs it. 

Make a homemade hummus or use store-bought, make a quick tahini sauce, cook the hard-boiled eggs and prepare the rest of the condiments. 

All of the components of a Sabich Sandwich can be prepared ahead of time and assembled right before eating! Just store them all in separate containers in the refrigerator, have fresh pita bread handy, and breakfast or lunch will be served in a breeze. This also makes it great for busy families who want to have a filling, nutritious meal on the go.

How to Make Six-Minute Eggs

How long do boiled eggs take? The perfect hard-boiled egg time is exactly six minutes! The yolk is creamy, bright, and comforting and the white is perfectly set. Start with a saucepan of boiling water. Lower your eggs into the water carefully; we usually use tongs or a slotted spoon. Set a timer for six minutes, then give the eggs a quick ice bath. This stops the cooking and creates easy-to-peel shells!

More Eggplant Recipes

• High Protein Skillet Eggplant Lasagna
• Roasted Eggplant
• Eggplant Meatballs with Pomegranate Molasses
• Braised Eggplant in Fresh Tomato Sauce
• Buffalo Eggplant Fries
• Stuffed Eggplant with Fennel and White Beans
• Eggplant Pickle Salad Sandwich

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