Makhloota (Chickpeas and Fava Beans With Tahini) Recipe

In case you’ve seen that many Arabic dishes are named based mostly on the place they arrive from (e.g. Qudsiyeh from al-Quds, or Jerusalem), the vessel they’re cooked in (qidreh, which suggests pot), or method through which they’re ready (maqlubeh means “flipped over”), you received’t be shocked to be taught that “makhloota” merely means blended collectively. What is definitely blended collectively, nonetheless, can range relying on area or locale. In Lebanon, it historically refers to a dish of boiled blended legumes together with any mixture of chickpeas, kidney beans, fava beans, lentils, wheat, and bulgur. 

The model of makhloota I’m sharing right here is one I got here throughout in Palestinian hummus retailers throughout the Galilee area, which borders Lebanon. Made with a mixture of cooked chickpeas and fava beans, it seems to be a model of Lebanese makhloota. The beans are normally frivolously mashed, then dressed with a lemony garlic sauce. The 2 legumes are served on the identical plate, both adjoining to or on high of one another. Some locations serve this combination on a mattress of hummus b’tahini, whereas others will merely drizzle a tahini sauce on high. 

I first tried this dish within the Galilee. I used to be most likely a teen; I keep in mind making a face at my mother and father once they ordered it as if to say: Why order such a fundamental dish? It’s simply beans blended collectively! However I additionally keep in mind the primary chew as a result of it caught me without warning—and was a very good lesson in how a easy or fundamental dish is commonly simply as, if no more, scrumptious than a fussy or difficult one. 

To today, I usually want makhloota by itself, heavy on the garlic and lemon, with some inexperienced chiles and parsley on the facet. It’s the best way Hummus Issa, my go-to spot in Akka, serves it.  However that’s to not say there isn’t a time and place for elevating the dish with a beneficiant drizzle of tahini sauce on high, which is why I’ve included this selection within the recipe as properly. No matter which possibility you select or end up within the temper for, the one factor I like to recommend (as at all times!) is to boil additional of each the favas and the chickpeas and freeze the extra parts as a result of you may then make makhloota within the time it takes to reheat these legumes. 

The recipe calls so that you can combine the fava and chickpeas individually with the flavorings for a prettier presentation, however for a fast weeknight dish you may definitely combine every thing collectively in the identical bowl. If utilizing canned beans and also you don’t thoughts the presentation, you might additionally warmth them each collectively. Nonetheless you make your makhloota, make sure you serve it with loads of bread to scoop it up, and ensure to get a little bit of every thing in every chew.