Appetizer · Snack · Middle Eastern · Vegan ·

Creamy Egyptian Bessara with Olive Oil and Coriander

Name: Creamy Egyptian Bessara with Olive Oil and Coriander
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Appetizer
Ingredients: 2 cups dried fava beans, soaked overnight; 4 cups water; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 large onion, chopped; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon coriander powder; Salt, to taste; 2 tablespoons olive oil; Juice of 1 lemon; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon dried mint; 1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves, chopped; 1/4 cup olive oil; Lemon wedges for serving

Bessara is a traditional Egyptian dish made from fava beans that's smooth, creamy, and seasoned with a blend of aromatic spices and herbs.

4.5(315 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·January 9, 2026

Creamy Egyptian Bessara with Olive Oil and Coriander — Appetizer served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Easy

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Bessara

For the Spice Mix

For the Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 435 kcal
Protein: 16.55 g
Carbs: 46.8 g
Fat: 22.03 g
Fiber: 17 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1739 kcal
Protein: 66.2 g
Carbs: 187.2 g
Fat: 88.1 g
Fiber: 68 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
2 cups dried fava beans soaked overnight	915	62	164	5	62
4 cups water	0	0	0	0	0
3 cloves garlic minced	13	0.6	3	0	0.2
1 large onion chopped	44	1.2	10	0.1	1.9
1 tablespoon ground cumin	22	1.1	2.7	1.3	2.3
1 teaspoon coriander powder	5	0.2	0.9	0.3	0.6
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0
2 tablespoons olive oil	238	0	0	27	0
Juice of 1 lemon	12	0.2	3.4	0.1	0.1
1 teaspoon paprika	6	0.3	1.2	0.3	0.9
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper	3	0.2	0.6	0.2	0.4
1 teaspoon dried mint	3	0.2	0.5	0.1	0.3
1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves chopped	1	0.1	0.2	0	0.1
1/4 cup olive oil	477	0	0	54	0
Lemon wedges for serving	2	0.1	0.7	0	0.1

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Prepping the Fava Beans

1
Drain and rinse the soaked fava beans
Drain and rinse the soaked fava beans.
2
Add beans and water
In a large pot, add the fava beans and water.
3
Cook until tender
Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer until beans are tender.

Preparing the Flavor Base

1
Heat olive oil
In a separate pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
2
Sauté garlic and onions
Sauté garlic and onions until translucent and fragrant.
Tip: Do not let the garlic burn; it can turn bitter.
3
Toast spices
Add cumin and coriander powder, stirring for 1 minute.
Tip: Always sauté spices lightly to enhance their aroma.

How to Make Creamy Egyptian Bessara with Olive Oil and Coriander

Total time: 2 h · Yields 4 servings

1
Beans Blending
Once fava beans are tender, add sautéed garlic and onions mixture to the pot and blend with an immersion blender until smooth.
2
Adjusting Flavors
Stir in lemon juice and salt, adjusting flavors to taste.
3
Simmer & Taste
Simmer the mixture on low heat to let the flavors meld.