Fahad Inc. Dishes: Boiled Broad or Fava Beans

Fahad Inc. Dishes

Bar-ge-lla~ Boiled Bread or Fava Beans

Serves 8

Beans or legumes are a favourite with local women, especially for offering guests during late afternoon visits. The beans are easy to prepare and serve and a little goes a long way.
Bar-ge-lla is a highly nutritious dish, high in protein and extremely satisfying to the taste buds. Again, served on the fou-alla, it may also be offered as a side dish to accompany ba-la-leet and bread.
In the Gulf home it is eaten with the fingers, the end of the bean being bitten off and pushed up with the index fingers, then the skin discarded .

4 cups broad beans
2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
Salt to taste

Wash the beans well. Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over, then add water and leave to soak overnight.
The following day, again wash well and add salt to taste. Boil very slowly for over an hour, making sure the water is replenished from time to time. The beans should be juicy. Continue cooking until very tender. Leave to cool before serving.