Bigilla (Maltese Broad Bean Dip)
A garlicky, lemony dip of mashed broad beans with chilli and mint, scooped up with crackers and raw veg.
- Time2 hr 30
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.67 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Drain the soaked beans, put them in a large pan and cover with fresh cold water. Bring to the boil, skim, then simmer for 1 hour 30 minutes, until very soft.
90 min - 2
Drain, keeping a cupful of the cooking water. If the skins are tough, slip them off. Tip the beans back in the pan.
- 3
Add the garlic, 2 tbsp of the oil, the lemon juice, chilli flakes and salt. Mash well with a potato masher, adding splashes of the water until thick and spoonable.
- 4
Stir in the parsley and mint and taste for salt and lemon.
- 5
Spoon into a shallow bowl, swirl with the last tablespoon of oil and serve with the cucumber and crackers.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.