⚙ Soaking: How to Do It and How Long It Takes

Soaking takes 30 min most of the time (usually between 15 min and 12 hr).

Soak in plenty of water, well above what's being soaked: legumes and grains swell and drink water, and whatever sticks out stays hard. Drain well before continuing.

Time by Dish

Examples from the Recipes

• Soak the couscous 5 minutes in the boiling water, covered · 5 min · Couscous Pie with Vegetables
• Soak the noodles 20 minutes in cold water · 20 min · Vegan Vegetable Pad Thai
• Rinse the rice until the water runs clear. Soak 30 minutes in salted water and drain · 30 min · Persian Fluffy Rice (Chelow)
• Soak the rice at least 1 hour in water and drain · 1 hr · Maqluba
• In advanceSoak the white beans overnight in cold water, and drain · 10 hr · Homemade Jerusalem Hamin
• Soak the beans a whole day in water and drain · 24 hr · Ful and Rice Stew

Tips

• Wet liver steams in the pan instead of searing: pat each slice dry with paper towels before frying.
• Bulgur soaked covered in boiling water softens without getting too wet: no need to squeeze it, and after good kneading it holds together as a dough.
• Dried chickpeas, only soaked, not cooked and not canned: a cooked chickpea doesn't hold the ball together, and the falafel falls apart in the oil.
• Soak dried chickpeas overnight: without soaking they stay hard even after an hour of cooking.

Recipes with Soaking

Fried KibbehLamb Harira Soup with HerbsTabbouleh in a Clay BowlHomemade Chicken BiryaniOven-Baked Falafel – Healthy and CrispBissara - Moroccan Fava Bean SpreadHarira SoupBean Soup - FijonesHomemade HummusMarinated Chicken SkewersTabboulehSpicy Homemade Falafel with Hot Pepper, No Flour

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