Easy Maltese Bigilla Broad Bean Dip

Here is an interesting recipe straight from the mediterranean! Best ever recipe for bigilla or Maltese broad bean dip for crackers! Dig in!

So here is the thing.

You can’t possibly visit Malta without stumbling upon this extremely delicious specialty: Maltese bigilla!

This brown greyish kind of puree is almost everywhere on the menu, mostly as part of a Maltese (lunch) platter. That delicious sample of Maltese cuisine also contains other stuff. Like sun dried tomatoes, olives, white beans, boiled Maltese sausage and local cured cheeses.

Yum!

So what is bigilla?

It is a cold paste of broad beans or Djerba beans.

Bigilla beans are broad beans.

You can also find them under the name of ‘ful medames’. You have to soak these dry beans in water for a while, cook them until tender and then blend them into a smooth and rich dip.

Together with other ingredients such as garlic, olive oil, pepper, salt and dried herbs.

So is bigilla healthy?

Sure!

The Maltese mostly serve bigilla with some galletti or Maltese water crackers.

Street Vendor

I had read about this traditional bigilla bean dip before we visited Malta.

However my very first encounter with this bean paste was right in front of our rental apartment the second evening of our stay.

Just as I was about to prepare some sweet onions and marinated rabbit to throw on the barbecue, this old van stops at the corner and turns his hellishly loud speakers on.

I couldn’t possibly understand what the vendor was shouting all the time but my husband got out and shouted back at me “what the hell does bigilla mean?”.

Change of Dinner Plans

My heart jumped and I said that bigilla was the local broad bean paste I had read about.

He returned, took his wallet with him and went out again while I tried to concentrate on prepping dinner. After 5 minutes he comes back in with a plastic container full of this delicious looking brownish paste.

He puts it on the table and walks back out.

Sfineg Salt Cod beignets

Then another 5 minutes later he comes back again.

Now carrying a brown paper bag with greasy stains on it. “Salt cod beignets,” he says, “freshly fried”. So apparently the man with a van also fries these on the spot!

He must be quite popular around here. Because you can hear the exciting conversations of the locals who gather around the van to buy goodies as well.

I glanced over at the deliciously smelling goodies on the table and made up my mind. I happily chucked the sweet onion side dish for the bbq rabbit back into the fridge. Unexpected dinner changes, I love them!

As long as it tastes good of course.

Maltese Dinner

Do you want my recipe for bigilla?

Then read on!

Well I can tell you that the fresh bigilla that evening was adorable and it was still a little lukewarm which I think brings out more flavor and makes it extra creamy…

The vendor sprinkled it with a little bit of mild chili sauce and a bit of freshly chopped parsley. Which actually turned out to be a great idea because the broad bean paste on itself can be a tad bitter sometimes.

Easy Bigilla Recipe (Maltese Broad Bean Dip)

We munched on the hot salt cod beignets (sfineg in Maltese) and then spread the lukewarm broad bean dip onto some slices of crunchy fresh bread while sipping a good local girgentina white wine.

That is when I decided that I would try to find these dried broad beans in the locals shops and prepare bigilla at home.

So here is for you: my Maltese bigilla recipe in English!

Enjoy!

Easy Maltese Bigilla Recipe

Print

Bigilla

Prep Time

3 hrs

Cook Time

1 hr 10 mins

Total Time

4 hrs 10 mins

 

Here's an interesting recipe straight from the mediterranean then! Best ever recipe for bigilla or Maltese broad bean dip for crackers!

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Servings: 4

Calories per serving: 170 kcal

Ingredients

• 9 oz dried foul medames beans (250 g)
• 2 small garlic cloves
• 2 bay leaves
• olive oil
• 2 tsp hot chili sauce
• salt

Instructions

1. Soak the beans in cold water for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight.
   
2. Drain them the next day, transfer the beans to a high pan and add a generous amount of water, the peeled garlic cloves, bay leaves and some salt.
   
3. Place the pan over high heat and boil for 50 minutes or until soft. Drain the cooked beans.
   
4. You can do 2 things now: add the beans to a blender and mix into a coarse paste…
   

5. … or peel the beans one by one and mash them up with a fork. Some don't like the skins even though these give the paste some texture and its typical bitterness. I blended half of the beans and peeled the other half. Then add a good splash of olive oil, the hot chili sauce and a pinch of salt.

   
6. Mix well again. Add more olive oil if you like. The paste should be sticky and wet but don't exaggerate. Check the seasoning and add extra salt or chili sauce to taste if necessary. Transfer the braod bean paste onto a clean plate. Sprinkle with more olive oil. Serve lukewarm or at room temperature.