Local food map Cairo (Egypt)
Cairo guides
Recipes 16
Pick a recipe
All Cairo recipes
Besarah — traditional dish from Egypt, Egypt
Starter Vegan

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥300kcal
💪14gProtein
🌾50gCarbs
🥑7gFat
🌿15gFibre
⚖️300 gServing

* Per serving · 300 g. May vary.

Besarah

How to order / say it
Say it بصارة — [bee-sah-rah]
Order I'd like the Besarah, please.
Locally من فضلك، أريد البصارة.
Say locally

A flavorful vegan dip made from pureed fava beans and fresh herbs.

Why try it?

Besarah offers a unique insight into Egypt's plant-based culinary traditions, with its roots tracing back to ancient times. A testament to the resourcefulness and simplicity of Egyptian cuisine, it highlights local herbs and legumes.

How it tastes

Besarah has a smooth, creamy texture with an herbal aroma, featuring the earthy taste of fava beans accentuated by the freshness of dill and parsley. It's typically enjoyed with warm bread or as a side dish.

Origin & History — first documented: 1800

Besarah originated in ancient Egypt when resourceful cooks utilized fava beans and local herbs to create nutritious meals. Evolving over centuries, it became a staple in Egyptian households, representing both tradition and versatility in local cuisine.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🫘 200 g fava beans
  • 🌿 20 g dill
  • 🌿 20 g parsley
  • 🧂 10 g coriander
  • 🧄 10 g garlic
  • 🧄 50 g onion
  • 🍋 1 lemon
  • 🫒 20 ml olive oil
  • 🧂 5 g salt

Method

  1. 1 Cook fava beans in water until soft.
  2. 2 Blend cooked beans with herbs, garlic, onion, and coriander until smooth.
  3. 3 Add lemon juice, salt, and olive oil to the blend and mix well.
  4. 4 Serve with a garnish of dill and olive oil.

More from Egypt

Molokhia © Wikimedia Commons
Soup Vegan

Molokhia

ملوخية
moo-loh-HEE-yah

A green soup made from finely chopped jute leaves, garlic, and coriander.

Halawa © Wikimedia Commons
Dessert Vegetarian

Halawa

حلاوة
Ha-la-wa

A dense sweet confection made primarily from tahini paste and sugar, often garnished with nuts.

Egyptian Grilled Pigeon
Main course Meat

Egyptian Grilled Pigeon

حمام محشي
hah-MAAM MAH-shee

Stuffed pigeon grilled and typically served with rice or freekeh.

Mahshi © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Vegetarian

Mahshi

محشي
MAH-shee

Vegetables stuffed with rice, herbs, and sometimes meat.

Feteer Meshaltet © Wikimedia Commons
Dessert Vegetarian

Feteer Meshaltet

فطير مشلتت
Fee-teer Meh-shal-teet

A flaky pastry layered with butter, often topped or filled with sweet or savory ingredients.

Shawarma © Wikimedia Commons
Street food Meat

Shawarma

شاورما
shuh-WAR-muh

Thinly sliced meat, traditionally lamb or chicken, served in pita with vegetables and tahini.

Hawawshi © Wikimedia Commons
Street food Meat

Hawawshi

حواوشى
ha-WOW-shee

Spicy minced meat stuffed in flatbread, baked until crispy.

Fattah
Main course Meat

Fattah

فتة
faht-tah

A festive dish made of crispy bread pieces layered with rice, meat, and tangy tomato sauce.

Tahini Salad © Wikimedia Commons
Starter Vegan

Tahini Salad

سلطة طحينة
Ta-hee-nee sah-la-tah

A simple salad featuring tahini sauce mixed with fresh vegetables.

Stuffed Pigeon © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Stuffed Pigeon

حمام محشي
hah-maam mah-shee

A traditional dish with pigeons stuffed with a spiced rice mix.

All Africa recipes — Egypt — Cairo — Besarah
keyboard_arrow_up