Balila dish keeps alive a Hijazi tradition in Al-Balad

The Hijazi dish of balila continues to be a major attraction in Al-Balad, where traders dressed in traditional garb and gold-colored turbans can be seen on Ramadan nights dealing with a rush of customers.
Balila is made of boiled chickpeas with cucumber, onion and an array of sauces and spices. It is sold at special stalls set up by the municipality on Qabel Street, also known for its gold market. The stalls were previously run by older Saudis but now young people with less experience also have stalls selling the dish.
Saudis come from all over the city just to get a taste of this traditional food in Al-Balad. Many are regular customers at certain stalls. Saudi women and their families can also be seen eating balila in open public spaces.
Many expatriate workers also buy the food, attracted by the huge crowds of Saudis at stalls.
Ali Mohammed Aburasen, a Saudi who works at a leading bank in Jeddah, said he travels far to buy balila. “I have been visiting Balad for the past 25 years to eat this traditional dish. I pay more for parking space than for a cup of balila.”
He said the taste has remained the same but the price has increased. The cost of a cup has risen from SR8 last year to SR10 this year.
Abdul Mohsin Khan, an Indian who visited a nearby gold shop, said he also bought a cup. “I wanted to try it because I saw many Saudis eating it?”
Ahmed Al-Sharif, a vendor at a stall, told Arab News that prices have increased because the municipality has raised the cost of renting stalls. In addition, the price of chickpeas from India, and other ingredients, has risen.
The stalls managed by men try to attract customers by praising their chickpeas using certain traditional sayings popular among Jeddah residents.
Some innovative young Saudi sellers sing folk songs to draw attention to their stalls.
The Ministry of Labor is helping to create jobs for young Saudis by setting up these stalls and monitoring expatriate workers during this business period.