DISH RESEARCH · Dip
Besara
Also known as: بصارة
Smooth fava-bean and herb dip topped with browned onion.
About Besara
Amira Ibrahim presents bissara as a traditional Egyptian fava-bean dip and recalls eating it in childhood. Her rendition combines peeled, dried split fava beans with parsley, coriander and dill, then finishes the green puree with browned onions.
Garlic, cumin and dried mint give the beans their aromatic flavour. Black pepper completes the seasoning, while the fried onion topping adds a savoury contrast to the smooth bean mixture.
The dip is spooned into serving dishes and can be eaten hot or cold. Pita bread is a suggested accompaniment; Amira also offers diced tomato seasoned with garlic, salt and cumin alongside.
Allergens in this recipe
Optional additions: Wheat (gluten).
Other allergen details are unconfirmed.
Ingredients vary by restaurant. Confirm your allergens with staff before ordering.
Ingredients in Besara
Amira Ibrahim's Egyptian bissara with browned onions.
- Peeled dried split fava beansBase
- Fresh parsleyAromatic
- Fresh corianderAromatic
- Fresh dillAromatic
- OnionAromatic
- GarlicAromatic
- Ground cuminSeasoning
- Dried mintSeasoning
- SaltSeasoning
- WaterLiquid
- Olive oilCooking medium
- Black pepperSeasoning
- Pita breadAccompaniment · OptionalIngredient page not linked
- Diced tomatoAccompaniment · Optional
Ingredient details & uncertainties
Allergen information is incomplete. Unconfirmed details do not establish that an allergen is absent.
- Peeled dried split fava beans: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Actual89 peeled dry split form, broader fava-bean candidate; no canned/whole-skin substitute.
- Fresh parsley: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Fresh coriander: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Fresh dill: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Onion: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Actual93 base and100 browned topping, allocations consolidated.
- Garlic: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Actual94 core plus optional full tomato accompaniment53, consolidated.
- Ground cumin: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Actual95, final seasoning102/111 and optional tomato53 consolidated.
- Dried mint: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Salt: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Water: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Explicit soak104 and all cooking/topups98/106-108 consolidated.
- Olive oil: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Actual prose50 specifies olive oil for topping while card101 generic frying oil; olive option actually source-provided, no assumed species.
- Black pepper: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Actual102/111 final seasoning, retained despite omission from main dip list.
- Pita bread (optional): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Wheat (gluten) source-confirmed. Actual53 suggested bread service; full separate formula unprovided.; Ingredient page link pending verification or catalogue review
- Diced tomato (optional): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Actual53 optional tomato/garlic/salt/cumin accompaniment, other three named allocations already consolidated.
Origins & food traditions
Countries
- Egypt
- EgyptCatalogue link pending review
Cuisines & regions
- Egyptian Cuisine
- Egyptian CuisineCatalogue link pending review
- Coptic CuisineCatalogue link pending review
AI-generated illustration of one possible presentation. Recipes and ingredients vary; the image does not establish allergen content.