Halabessa Warm Spiced Chickpea Drink
Halabessa (Egyptian spiced chickpeas) is the best-known hot winter drink along the Nile Corniche: boiled chickpeas in a refreshing red broth of tomato, garlic, cumin, chilli and lemon. It has a very low glycemic index (clinically reviewed estimate ≈25) and combines the pleasure of a drink with the value of a filling meal.
Glycemic index
Glycemic load
Calories
Protein
💡 Smart Nutritional Guidance
Consumption advice
Sip the warm broth and eat the chickpeas from your cup with a spoon; a warm evening snack that prevents winter hunger pangs without added fat or sugar.
Best preparation methods
Soak the chickpeas for 12 hours, changing the water, to reduce the gas pulses can cause, then boil them with tomato juice, cumin and lemon juice without processed stock cubes.
Important Nutritional Note
The soluble fibre of chickpeas feeds the gut bacteria, and cumin and chilli stimulate digestive enzymes and the basal metabolic rate.
Nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per typical portion (250 g) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 95 kcal | 237.5 kcal |
| Protein | 5.2 g | 13 g |
| Carbohydrate | 15 g | 37.5 g |
| Available carbohydrate | 10.5 g | 26.2 g |
| Fat | 1.8 g | 4.5 g |
| Dietary fibre | 4.5 g | 11.2 g |
The typical portion is approximate, for comparison purposes.
Comparison & smarter alternatives
Among the foods in Arabic dishes with a glycemic index (37), it ranks 4 (lowest first).
Smart alternatives from the same family:
Frequently asked questions
Does halabessa raise blood sugar in people with diabetes?
Not at all: chickpeas have one of the lowest glycemic indexes (≈25) and the broth contains almost no fat or sugar, making it an ideal light meal for blood-sugar control.
What is the nutritional value of a typical cup of halabessa (chickpeas and broth, 250 g)?
A cup provides about 240 kcal, 13 g of plant protein, 11 g of excellent fibre and little fat (about 4.5 g).
Is the chilli in halabessa safe for the stomach?
Chilli is optional and best used in moderation; people with gastritis or irritable bowel syndrome should keep to cumin, lemon and tomato only.
Reviewed by the WiBo Health medical team · Last reviewed 13 October 2026
Disclaimer: This guidance is for nutritional lifestyle orientation and does not constitute a diagnostic medical device under EU Regulation MDR 2017/745.