How to Make Bissara

Ingredients

• 1 kg split (crushed) fava beans
• A little baking soda (for boiling)
• About 1 1/4 cups dried, finely ground mulukhiyah (jute mallow) leaves
• 1 large onion
• A few garlic cloves
• A bunch of fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon dried coriander (ground cilantro)
• Vegetable oil + ghee (to taste)
• Salt to taste
• How to make bissara, from a friend and chef on the Sho Tabkhin Al-Youm site:
• Israa Salem Sammak
• Click Israa's name to visit her profile on our site and discover her recipes
• For more of Israa's delicious recipes, see Ma'qouda (or Lben Amou)

Method

1. Soak the fava beans in water mixed with a little baking soda; soak them overnight.
2. Rinse them in the morning, then put them in the pot, cover with clean water, and boil them well.
3. After they're cooked, grind them well until smooth, then put them in a pot with finely chopped and well-washed molokhia and stir occasionally so they cook together.
4. In a pan, heat a little vegetable oil with ghee and fry the finely chopped onion until it softens.
5. Add the crushed garlic and cook until softened, then add the coriander and sauté.
6. Add the sautéed mixture on top of the pot with the fava and molokhia.
7. Let the bissara come to a couple of quick boils while stirring, then remove it from the heat and ladle it into bowls.
8. Israa Salem Sammak
9. For more of Israa's tasty recipes, here are Ma'qudah and Laban Amu