Rabat – Layering clothes can definitely make your winter warm. But, have you tried Morocco’s bessara soup?
If the answer is yes, there is a high chance that you have started reminiscing about the soup’s aroma, spices flavor, and more particularly the warmth it brings.
Bessara’s ingredients, such as dried split fava beans, have minerals that can nourish both your body and soul. This ingredient alone includes folate, thiamin, and different vitamins, including K, C, and B-6 as well as potassium, zinc, and magnesium.
If you have never had a chance to taste bessara during your time in Morocco, there is another option. Roll up your sleeves and make it yourself. There are few ingredients but a lot of spices, the kind that you would already have in your kitchen.
Ingredients
½ kg of dried split fava beans
½ Large cup of olive oil
½ Teaspoon of salt
2 Tablespoons of cumin
5 Cloves of garlic
2 Teaspoons of paprika
½ Teaspoon of black pepper
Method
The steps to make “your bessara dreams come true” are simple.
Put a large pot on low heat, and add the oil, crushed garlic, dried fava beans, and all of the other ingredients. Stir all of them together and add six large cups of water to your pot until your ingredients are fully submerged.
Continue stirring until everything is mixed before you cover your ingredients. Reduce heat and let everything simmer for an hour. You will need to stay near the kitchen as you will have to stir the mixture occasionally, to prevent it from sticking to the pot. You are on the right track as long as there is enough water for the beans to boil.
An hour later, uncover the cooking pot and make sure the fava beans are soft to the touch, to the point that you can squish them in your hand. When you achieve this texture, you are ready for the next step. Or if the beans still have a dry consistency, you will need to add more hot water and give it more time until they soften.
When your beans are soft enough, press down on them with a wooden spoon as if you are mashing potatoes. When they turn soft, add a small amount of hot water to reach the desired texture and consistency.
Some people choose to serve the bessara mix once the beans are mashed.
Read Also: Moroccan Cuisine: 8 Traditional Street Foods You Must Try in Morocco
Here is a tip to make your soup even more delicious and warming.
In a small pot or pan, add ⅓ cup of olive oil and grate two cloves of garlic adding a pinch of salt. Stir everything until the oil is warm enough for the garlic to release its flavor. Making sure not to burn the mix.
Then, pour the olive oil on top of the bessara pot and serve it hot in a bowl with pieces of bread.
You can step up the recipe even more with a pinch of cumin and paprika powder as a topping, or you can add a drop of olive oil for added flavor.
Bon appetit!
