Egyptian
Vegan
Gluten freeBisella bel gazar (peas and carrots in tomato sauce)
بسلة بالجزر (bisella bel gazar): Egypt's weeknight peas and carrots, simmered in garlicky tomato
Ask almost any Egyptian what was on the table on a school night and bisella bel gazar will come up: sweet peas and carrot cubes stewed in tomato sauce, ladled over vermicelli rice in homes from Shubra to Mansoura. This is the meat-free version, with a little cumin and a garlic-coriander finish so it tastes complete on its own. Children love it, and it reheats well for lunch boxes. Most people add the peas too early, so they turn khaki; frozen peas need only the last 8 minutes. Chef's tip: fry the tomato paste in the oil for a full minute before adding liquid; it loses its tinny taste and the sauce turns brick red.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Serves
- 4
- Per serving
- 190 kcal
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 3 carrotsabout 300 g, peeled and cut into 1 cm cubes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 14 oz chopped tomatoes1 tin, or 4 fresh grated
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 14 oz peasfrozen or fresh
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the ta'leya
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil
- 3 garliccloves, crushed
- 1 tsp ground coriander
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 2 tbsp sunflower oil in a pan over a medium heat and fry 1 onion until soft and pale gold.
6 minStep 2: Add 2 tbsp tomato paste and fry, stirring, for a minute until it darkens.
2 minStep 3: Add 3 carrots, 14 oz chopped tomatoes, 1 ¼ cups water, ½ tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper. Cover and simmer until the carrots are just tender to a knife.
15 minStep 4: Stir in 14 oz peas and simmer uncovered until they are hot and the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
8 minStep 5: For the ta'leya, warm 1 tbsp sunflower oil in a small pan, add 3 garlic and 1 tsp ground coriander and fry for about 30 seconds, until the garlic smells sweet and barely colours. Tip it into the stew with its sizzle, stir and serve with vermicelli rice.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 190 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 25 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 8 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bisella bel gazar (peas and carrots in tomato sauce) take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of carrots?
- Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.
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