Moroccan Bissara – Creamy Split Fava Bean Soup

Name: Moroccan Bissara – Creamy Split Fava Bean Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Moroccan
Ingredients: 250 g dried split fava beans (peeled); 1 liter water; 3 garlic cloves; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon sweet paprika; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 pinch cayenne pepper; 1 lemon, cut into wedges

A velvety traditional Moroccan soup of split fava beans with garlic, cumin and olive oil.

Total: 55 min
Servings: 2 servings
Difficulty: Easy
Calories · per serving: 320 kcal

Written by

Ecem Akkaba · Dietitian

Dietitian, graduate of İstanbul Medipol University. She develops the recipes and nutrition values on FitZen.

Updated: July 26, 2026

In short

Moroccan Bissara – Creamy Split Fava Bean Soup contains 320 calories per serving: 18 g protein, 40 g carbohydrate and 12 g fat. It takes 55 minutes in total and makes 2 servings.

About this recipe

Bissara is a beloved Moroccan comfort dish, traditionally eaten for breakfast on cold mornings. This plant-based soup is rich in protein and fiber, keeping you full and energized for hours.

Method

1
Rinse the split fava beans well and drain.
2
Add the beans, water and whole garlic cloves to a large pot and bring to a boil.
3
Lower the heat and simmer for 40-45 minutes, skimming off any foam, until the beans fall apart.
4
Stir in the cumin, paprika and salt.
5
Blend the soup until completely smooth and creamy.
6
Thin with a little hot water until you reach a pourable consistency.
7
Ladle into bowls and serve drizzled with olive oil, a pinch of cayenne and lemon wedges.