Bessara/Fava bean dip

Bessara is a middle eastern dish served as a dip or as a soup and is made with cooked fava beans.This can be served as part of a mezze platter.

Preparation time:30 minutes

Serves:6-8

Ingredients:

1 cup dry split fava beans (also called as habas, soaked in water overnight)

3 garlic cloves

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of cumin

1/2 teaspoon Shatta(red chili paste,optional)

1 teaspoon of paprika

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 teaspoon lemon juice

3 large garlic cloves

1/8 teaspoon sumac powder

Procedure:

1.  Place the fava beans in a pressure cooker in just enough water to submerge them and add 1/2 teaspoon salt and pressure cook for 2 whistles.Drain the water.

2.Roast the garlic on 1 teaspoon of olive oil.

3.Puree the fava beans with the rest of the ingredients except sumac powder. Serve Bessara drizzled  with olive oil, cumin and sumac powder on top.

Tips:

This can be diluted with vegetable broth or hot water to make a fava bean soup or served with pita bread or as part of the mezze platter.