Bean Hummus or Bigilla is a typical Maltese vegan sauce, more than a sauce I would consider it a bean-based cream, to be spread on crusty bread, crackers, etc.
You can fill tacos, season rice, or even dip breadsticks into it.
Bigilla is one of the protagonists of a winter finger food, excellent therefore in party buffets.
I go to Malta very often as my son lives there and it was at a party in honor of my grandson that I learned to enjoy these dips, as they are called here, that is, small sauces.
The ingredient of Bigilla is black beans, but I tried our borlotti beans and the result was satisfactory.
Preparing Bigilla is very simple. After having soaked the beans overnight, proceed with cooking them in water, bringing them almost to dryness and until they are well cooked and tender.
To shorten the time, you can cook them in a pressure cooker for about 25 minutes starting from the whistle, or you can use canned ones already cooked.
At this point, we put all the ingredients in the mixer (beans, garlic, chili pepper, parsley, olive oil, salt, pepper, and a drop of Tabasco) to blend everything together.
After placing the Bigilla in bowls, sprinkle again with a handful of chopped parsley and a drizzle of oil and we just have to enjoy it.
These recipes are thought for you:
- Cost: Very economical
- Rest time: 12 Hours
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 8
- Cooking methods: Boiling
- Cuisine: Vegan
- Seasonality: All Seasons
- Energy 131.87 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 9.46 (g) of which sugars 0.15 (g)
- Proteins 3.43 (g)
- Fat 9.56 (g) of which saturated 1.39 (g)of which unsaturated 0.12 (g)
- Fibers 3.40 (g)
- Sodium 177.95 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 100 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
Let’s go shopping
- 11 oz dried black beans (or pre-cooked)
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (large)
- to taste chopped parsley
- to taste marjoram (chopped)
- to taste mint (chopped)
- to taste thyme
- to taste salt
- to taste pepper
Bean Hummus or Bigilla
Tools
What we need to make
- 1 Pot large
- 1 Mixer
- 2 Bowls
Steps
Let’s go to the kitchen
With dried beans.
After soaking the beans overnight, discard the soaking water and put them in a pot with cold water and on the stove until they are well cooked and the water has practically all evaporated, it will take about 1 and a half hours, while if you cook them in a pressure cooker from the start of the whistle it will only take about 25 minutes
Drain any remaining water, and let them cool.
Only when they have cooled, transfer them into a mixer or Thermomix.
Put together all the ingredients, garlic, chili pepper, parsley, extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and a drop of Tabasco, and blend until smooth.
If necessary, blend in multiple batches, but do not add any liquids except oil.
Until you get a pasty mixture.
Now that our Bigilla is ready, we serve it in small bowls garnished with some fresh parsley leaves and another drizzle of olive oil.
Accompany with crackers, michettes, or breadsticks. I chose these fun Maltese buttons
Here is the Bean Hummus or Maltese Bigilla ready.
Bean Hummus or Bigilla, can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Bean Hummus or Bigilla, can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Bean Hummus or Bigilla, can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Tips
A TIP
You can achieve an even better result by preparing the Bigilla the day before. This way the flavors will have time to blend and the taste will be even more fragrant and delicious.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Bean Hummus or Bigilla
Can I use other types of beans?
Yes, you can use any variety:
Yes, you can use any variety:
