Mamta very kindly added another recipe of mine for Bigilla which is a very old traditional recipe for a broadbean paste. Its very simple and easy to make with the only hardship being the soaking time and time it takes to cook the beans.

Bigilla

As you can see the person who introduced me to it (my mate Marcel who is Maltese) found that recipe to be spot on, just like he remembers his grandmothers from when he was a child!

However after thinking about how difficult it is to source the dried beans and other people asking the same thing I went on to make it again using frozen fresh broadbeans.

Bigilla from fresh broadbeans

Now this recipe is slightly different due to the nature of fresh beans being wetter and not needing soaking but it does come out very similar to the Traditional version.

The reason for my post is I also took some for him to try and he was very impressed again, saying how similar it is and from now on when he has a party he will be making both versions as it will give extra colour to the table.

just thought I'd share that with you !

Steve

It does look lovely Steve. I am sure I can make it with other beans I have in the house, like kidney beans/chickpeas/black eyed beans. Now, here is a thought, why don't I just do that, one day soon :-)! I am not sure when I will get around to buying some braod beans again.

Mamta

Thats something I was talking to Marcel about when he was telling me about the fresh bean version I'd given him. There will be several other beans that will work well and give a similar version...

however Chickpeas will make it more like houmous and would probably seem like its houmous thats not been made right (missing the tahini)

and we said kidney beans although would make a good paste would have too much of their own distinct flavour for it to be similar to bigilla.

I think over time I'm going to try a few other beans and see what I come up with, but I won't be classing it as Bigilla... like I didn't count the first attempt at making it I tried as I added too many other things to make it more like I'd have made it if I'd been a Maltese Grandmother lol..

Steve

Thanks for posting the fresh broad bean Bigilla, as I can't find dried only fresh or frozen. Broad Beans are my favourite veggie! Off to the country for a long weekend so hopefully the local Pick Your Own Farm will have a good crop by now.

Agree about not using chick peas, everyone could think it was hummus gone wrong, without the tahini and lots of garlic. Frozen soya beans could be an alternative or possibly butter beans?

soya beans... now theres a thought !

Steve

Soya beans should work well Steve. I always resort to them in the depths of winter as a substitute to try to satisfy my Broad Bean cravings!