Balaleet is one of the most popular Emirati breakfast dishes. It offers a unique combination of contrasting flavors, where the noodle pasta or vermicelli provides a sweet taste that complements the savory eggs. Here’s how to make it…

Balaleet (Emirati Sweet Vermicelli and Egg Omelet)

When you feel like cooking something easy and different, there's nothing better than this simple Emirati breakfast dish.

Balaleet (بلاليط) is a classic Gulf Middle Eastern dish, made of aromatic, sweetened vermicelli/noodles topped with savory egg. Although it seems like an odd combination, it tastes GREAT!

The noodles are slightly sweetened and provide a wonderful contrast to the saltier, seasoned eggs. The aromatics used in the dish give the noodles an intensely fragrant flavor. This dish is truly addictive!  

Balaleet is almost always served at an Emirati table. It is typically served for breakfast. Balaleet is also offered as dessert on occasion and comes in a variety of forms throughout the Gulf region. Black-eyed peas and boiled garbanzo beans are traditional sides for balaleet offered during Eid. This dish can be made in the evenings during Ramadan.

Eating the dish in the fowala style can yield the ideal dining experience. In the Gulf countries, this is how people usually eat.

In this blog post, I'll guide you with step-by-step instructions on how to duplicate this traditional Emirati breakfast recipe at home!

What Is Balaleet (بلاليط)?

Originating from the United Arab Emirates, Balaleet is a flavorful dish served as the traditional breakfast. It is a sweet and savory dish that can be eaten hot or cold.

There are two primary components to it: the savory egg topping and the sweet vermicelli noodles. Saffron, rose water, cardamom, and sugar are used to flavor and sweeten the vermicelli noodles, which are then topped with an egg omelet.

The dish is usually served with boiled garbanzo beans and other sides like hummus, cheese, and bread.

Vermicelli was not introduced to the Middle East in earnest until the time of the tradesmen who introduced pasta during the Middle Ages, even though the pairing of sweets and eggs has been a tradition since the earliest Bedouins.

Noodle-Based Desserts

India and Pakistan also have recipes for sweet vermicelli noodles like sheer khurma (noodles with milk, sugar, nuts, and dried dates) and muzaffar (vermicelli noodles with milk, cardamom, ghee, sugar, Khoya, and mixed chopped dry nuts).

Likewise, faloodeh, a Persian frozen delicacy, and balaleet are similar in some ways. This ice cream also includes vermicelli noodles and rosewater.

Traditional Emirati Breakfast

Balaleet is a classic breakfast dish in the UAE. Breads like khameer, a bread sweetened with dates, or raqaq, a paper-thin, crunchy bread, are other typical Emirati breakfast foods.

Chebab, another morning mainstay in the Emirates and most Gulf nations like Bahrain or Qatar (though they go by different names), is a pancake with a texture similar to Moroccan baghrir. The two main ingredients in balaleet, cardamom, and saffron, are also used in chebab, which gives this dish its distinctive flavor.

What Makes Balaleet So Good?

I first tried it at the well-known Dubai restaurant Arabian Tea House. I immediately wanted to make it at home! The ingredients seemed to be easily accessible.

I have a habit of compiling all the recipes I tasted and loved from the various places I've visited. So, I wrote down a basic recipe for balaleet that I wanted to try, thinking it would be a trial-and-error process. It turned out perfectly on the first try! That doesn't normally happen.

Now, I often make balaleet for Sunday breakfast and love enjoying it as dessert after a delicious fattoush salad. A truly Middle Eastern brunch!

I'm sure you'll going to love this Emirati breakfast recipe, because,

• It's unique and tasty: If you like sweet and savory flavors in one dish, you will love this dish for breakfast. It might sound like an unusual combination, but also incredibly comforting!
• It's simple: It takes around 15 minutes from start to finish and makes a pretty delicious breakfast, which I made sure to keep as simple as possible.
• The sugar is balanced: Most recipes use ¾ -1 cup of sugar per cup of noodles. I added half a cup, thinking I might add more if necessary, but I most probably didn't! Properly sweet without being sickly or too sweet.
• Fantastic blend of spices: For me, the ratio of saffron and cardamom was perfect! A good ratio that provides just the right amount of flavor without being overdone. Although I saw many recipes calling for far more cardamom, this was perfect for our palates. But feel free to experiment if you like.

As the dish cooks in your home, the smell is sure to drive you crazy!!!

Ingredients in Balaleet

• 2 cups vermicelli noodles
• 1 stick unsalted butter, or 5-6 tbsp. ghee
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 ½ tbsp. ground cardamom
• 2 tbsp. Rosewater
• 2 pinches saffron
• 4 tbsp. Vegetable oil
• 4 eggs, beaten

How To Make Balaleet?

Here's a simple recipe for making the traditional Arabic dish balaleet:

1. In a thick-bottomed skillet, heat 1 tbsp. oil/butter and lightly cook the vermicelli until golden brown, about 4–5 minutes. To prevent the vermicelli from burning, continuously stir with a wooden spatula.
2. Soak saffron threads in rosewater and set aside.
3. After that, add a lot of water to the fried vermicelli and bring it to a boil, being careful to keep it al dente. Use a colander to drain the vermicelli.
4. To the same pan, add sugar, cardamom, butter, and diluted saffron. Stir and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until sugar is dissolved.
5. Stir in the boiled vermicelli and cook until cooked.
6. In a different pan, heat the remaining three tablespoons of vegetable oil. Add the whisked eggs. To spread the undercooked egg, tilt the pan. After the top becomes dry, turn the omelet over and continue cooking for another minute.
7. Arrange the vermicelli on a platter and top with the omelet.
8. Serve warm, especially with tea or chai. Ultimate comfort!

How To Serve?

Traditionally, balaleet is served with black-eyed peas and boiling garbanzo beans during the Eid festivals. It is also served with other sides like Hummus, cheese, and bread.

Recipe Notes

• Be careful not to overcook the vermicelli while they boil in the water.
• You can increase or decrease the amount of sugar according to your taste.
• To top the noodles, I prefer to make a simple omelet and sometimes season it with saffron, cardamom, salt, and pepper.
• You can also make scrambled eggs!
• If you're serving a larger crowd, feel free to add more eggs and double the recipe’s ingredients.
• It is not necessary to make this recipe in the traditional way. You can experiment with balaleet to make your own version that suits your palate.

Nutritional Value Of Balaleet

After learning how Ballet is made, it's important to know how nutritious it is. Yes, it has a lot of protein and carbohydrates. The dish is made more nutritious by the egg and the wheat noodles.

Balaleet's nutritional value can be increased by the following methods. Look at this:

• You can prepare the dish with the highest-quality vermicelli noodles.
• You can pair it with nutritious sides like beans, cheese, hummus, salad, etc.

This dish can be eaten for breakfast, but lunch will probably be delayed. Therefore, instead of acquiring the English name for balaleet, try making it at home.

FAQ’s

What is balaleet made of?

Vermicelli, eggs, butter, saffron, cardamom, and water are usually used to make it, although other ingredients such as nuts, rosewater, dried fruit, and honey can be added.

It typically consists of the aromatic combo topped with an egg and served either hot or cold.   

What is the origin of balaleet?

The Persian Gulf Arab states are said to be the home to this savory and sweet morning meal called balaleet (بلاليط). The earliest Bedouins were fond of the taste of anything sweet with eggs, and when pasta was brought to the Middle East in the Middle Ages, vermicelli noodles were added to the dish. This dish is especially served for special occasions but is also offered for dinner during Ramadan.

What does balaleet taste like?

Balaleet offers a sweet and savory taste. The noodles are slightly sweetened and the eggs are savory.

Final Words

Although you can easily make balaleet at home, it's best to try it at one of Dubai's restaurants. The best Balaleet may be found in Dubai's streets. So, if you've ever stayed in an expensive hotel, it's the time to taste street food.

Once you've tried Balaleet, don't forget to try some other Arabian Gulf's main course delicacies.

Please give this dish a try, and don't forget to Share this post