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Sabich sandwich with fried eggplant, egg, and amba in pita

Israeli pita stuffed with fried eggplant and egg

Sabich

Sabich

45 minMedium

Prep Time

20 min

Cook Time

25 min

Total Time

45 min

Servings

4

4 sandwiches

Difficulty

Medium

Cost

Budget

$

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Sabich

Israeli pita stuffed with fried eggplant and egg

A loaded Israeli sandwich of fried eggplant, hard-boiled egg, hummus, and amba (mango pickle sauce) stuffed in fluffy pita. Sabich rivals falafel as Israel's best street food.

20m

Prep Time

25m

Cook Time

45m

Total Time

4

Servings

Medium

Difficulty

Budget $

Cost

Mediterranean CuisineMain CourseVegetarian
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen

April 19, 2023(Updated April 13, 2026)

Sabich originated with Iraqi-Jewish immigrants in Israel and has become a beloved street food. The combination of creamy eggplant, rich egg, tangy amba, and fresh salad is irresistible.

Why This Recipe Works

Frying the eggplant creates a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture. The amba sauce provides a unique tangy-spicy element that ties all the components together.

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggplants, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
  • 4 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
  • 4 pita breads
  • 1/2 cup hummus
  • 2 tbsp amba (mango pickle sauce)
  • Israeli salad (diced cucumber, tomato, onion) for serving

Instructions

  1. 1

    Salt eggplant slices and rest 15 minutes. Pat dry thoroughly.

  2. 2

    Fry eggplant in 1/4 inch of oil over medium-high heat until golden on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.

  3. 3

    Hard-boil eggs: cover with cold water, bring to a boil, cover, remove from heat, and let stand 10 minutes. Peel and slice.

  4. 4

    Warm pita and spread hummus inside. Layer with fried eggplant, sliced egg, Israeli salad, and tahini.

  5. 5

    Drizzle with amba sauce and serve immediately.

Serving Suggestions

Ways to Serve This Dish

  • Serve with crusty artisan bread for dipping

  • Finish with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil

  • Pair with a simple arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette

Substitutions

AmbaMango chutney + hot sauce

Approximates the tangy-spicy flavor

Fried eggplantRoasted eggplant

Lighter but less traditional texture

DepthPantry

Test Kitchen Pick

Olive Oil

Helpful Pantry Staple

Why the olive oil matters

On recipes like this, olive oil is not just a background fat. A better bottle gives you cleaner flavor and a better finish.

This is one of the few pantry upgrades that keeps paying off every time you cook in this lane.

  • Useful in dressings, sauces, and finishing
  • Improves flavor without changing the recipe structure

A good bottle of olive oil is one of the safest pantry upgrades for Mediterranean and Italian cooking.

Shop olive oil for this recipe

Tips & Storage

Pro Tips

  • Salting the eggplant draws out moisture for better frying and less oil absorption.

  • Amba can be found at Middle Eastern markets or made from pickled mango.

Storage

Assemble fresh. Components can be prepped 1 day ahead.

Reheating

Re-fry eggplant briefly in a hot pan to re-crisp.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (185mg) · 4 servings

Calories380
LowModerateHigh

A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet

Protein14g
Carbohydrates18g
Fat42g
Fiber520mg
Sugar8g
Sodium6g

Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is amba?
A tangy, spicy Iraqi condiment made from pickled mangoes, fenugreek, and spices.
Can I skip the amba?
You can, but it's a defining flavor. Try mango chutney mixed with hot sauce as a substitute.

Explore More

More Mediterranean RecipesMore Main CourseVegetarian RecipesStovetop Recipes
Sarah Chen

About Sarah Chen

Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.

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