Posted by Tiffany 11/30/2001 12:09 pm

Source: Classic Vegetarian Cooking from the Middle East and North Africa by Habeeb Salloum

4 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup rice, rinsed
1 1/2 cups frozen or fresh fava beans
4 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
1 teaspoon Ibzar (Arabian Gulf spice, see following recipe)
Salt, to taste
2 1/2 cups water
4 tablespoons toasted pine nuts, for garnish

Melt butter in a saucepan and saute onion over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add garlic and rice and stir-fry for an additional 3 minutes. Stir in fava beans, dill, 1 teaspoon ibzar, salt and water. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 25 minutes; then turn off heat and allow to steam for 30 minutes longer. Place on a platter and garnish with pine nuts and serve. Makes 6 servings.

Ibzar (Gulf spice)
4 tablespoons cumin
4 tablespoons black pepper
4 tablespoons ground coriander seeds
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground mace

Combine all ingredients and store in a tightly covered container.

Makes about 1 cup.