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Roz bel Ful Ahdar

In Egypt this is prepared in the spring, when fava beans are very young and tender. It is served hot as an accompaniment to meat, or cold with yogurt and a salad. Egyptians do not remove the skins of the beans.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 6

Ingredients

1 pound fresh shelled or frozen fava beans
Salt
Vegetable oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon ground coriander
2 cups basmati or long-grain rice (wash if using basmati)
Pepper
3 cups water

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Boil the beans in salted water for a few minutes, until they are tender, then drain.

    Step 2

    Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a pan and fry the onion until soft and golden. Add the garlic and coriander and stir for a moment or two. Then add the drained beans and sauté a little, stirring and turning them over.

    Step 3

    Add the rice, and stir until transparent. Add salt and pepper and pour in the water. Bring to the boil and simmer over low heat, covered, for about 20 minutes, until the rice is tender.

  2. Variations

    Step 4

    Omit the coriander and stir into the cooking water 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh dill and 1/4 teaspoon saffron powder or crushed threads.

    Step 5

    Another prestigious dish is rice with artichokes. Use a 14-ounce package of frozen and defrosted artichoke hearts or bottoms, cut into quarters, instead of fava beans.

Cover of Claudia Roden's The New Book of Middle Easter Food, featuring a blue filigree bowl filled with Meyer lemons and sprigs of mint.
Reprinted with permission from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, copyright © 2000 by Claudia Roden, published by Knopf. Buy the full book on Amazon or Bookshop.
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