A healthy, vibrant green mezze topped with crispy onions.
A traditional Egyptian mezze made from mashed fava beans blended with fresh herbs and finished with a fragrant spiced oil. Simple and nourishing, bissara is filling enough to be a meal in itself.
Ingredients
- 500 g / 2¾ cups dried fava beans or 1kg fresh fava beans
- 1 onion (red or white)
- 1 handful fresh parsley
- 1 handful fresh dill
- 1 handful fresh coriander (cilantro)
Tasha (seasoned oil)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tsp ground coriander seeds
- 1 tsp ground cumin
Instructions
Cook the beans
- If using dried fava beans, soak them overnight. Drain, then cook in salted water with half the onion (cut into quarters) for at least 1 hour, or until very soft.500 g / 2¾ cups dried fava beans
- If using fresh fava beans, shell them and cook in salted water with half the onion for about 20 minutes, or until tender.
Blend
- Drain the cooked beans and transfer them to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the fresh parsley, dill and coriander.1 handful fresh parsley, 1 handful fresh dill, 1 handful fresh coriander (cilantro)
- Blend using a food processor or hand blender until smooth.
Make the tasha
- Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over low heat.2 tbsp olive oil
- Add the garlic, cumin and ground coriander, stirring continuously.4 garlic cloves, crushed, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander seeds
- Heat until fragrant, but do not allow the oil to bubble or burn.
Fry the onion
- Slice the remaining half of the onion and fry in a pan until golden.1 onion
Assemble
- Spoon the blended beans into a serving bowl.
- Pour the spiced oil over the top and finish with the fried onions.
Serve
- Serve warm with pita bread.
