The Golden Chickpea

During Iftar, the evening meal in which Muslims break their fast during the month of Ramadan, guests of Mehmed the Conqueror were served a pilaf made with chickpeas. According to legend, one chickpea was made of pure gold. Like the British tradition of finding a silver sixpence in a Christmas pudding, the guest who discovered the golden chickpea kept it as their dis kirasi, a special gift given during the holy month.