Tunisian chickpea soup is a real working class staple — cheap, quick to prepare, filling, and commonly found at inexpensive restaurants. Lablabi is a hot and spicy dish, also quite greasy and heavy, and typically flavored with garlic, cumin, and harissa.

It is traditionally served ladled over chunks of stale crusty bread, drizzled with olive oil, sometimes even with either vinegar or lemon or lime juice, and often garnished with cilantro, parsley, and scallions. Special versions of lablabi include capers, olives, pickled vegetables and tuna, while another variety called hergma is made with cow's hooves.