Moroccan · soup

Bissara (Fava Bean Soup)

Name: Bissara (Fava Bean Soup)
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Cuisine: Moroccan
Ingredients: 2 cups dried split fava beans, soaked; 6 cloves garlic; 1/4 cup olive oil; 2 tsp cumin; 2 tsp sweet paprika; 1/4 tsp cayenne; salt to taste; 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Bissara (Fava Bean Soup) reads citrus 6.4, sourness 6.0 and richness 4.5 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Moroccan soup, about 1 hr 15 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 3.7 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 3.1 / 10
Sour & Bright — 8.1 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 4.0 / 10
Rich & Fat — 5.2 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 5.0 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Citrus 6.4 · Sourness 6.0 · Richness 4.5 · Allium 4.5 · Earthy 3.8 · Umami 3.4 · Heat 3.1 · Salinity 3.0 · Sweetness 2.7 · Warm Spice 2.5 · Nutty 2.1 · Bitterness 1.7 · Fruity 1.4 · Floral 0.8 · Herbaceous 0.7

What's in it (8)

2 cups dried split fava beans, soaked
6 cloves garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp sweet paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne
salt to taste
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Time & effort: about 1 hr 15 min (15 min active) · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 84.8 kcal, 6.9 g protein, 1.2 g fat, 16.6 g carbs

Dietary: Vegan — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (4 steps)

Simmer the soaked fava beans with garlic and water until completely soft and falling apart.
Blend or mash until smooth, adjusting consistency with cooking water.
Season generously with cumin, paprika, salt, and lemon juice.
Serve in bowls with a drizzle of good olive oil and a dusting of paprika and cumin.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Hilbet (Fenugreek and Fava Bean Paste) — Eritrean
Vegetarian Coconut Curry with Chickpeas and Spinach — Indian
Loaded Beef Burrito Bowl with Cilantro Lime Rice — Tex-Mex
Black Bean and Avocado Sandwich — Mexican
Chickpea Coconut Curry with Kale — Indian

Keep reading: what citrus, sourness, richness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.