The recipe was sent to us by Claudia Taylor East of SO MALTA organisation. ‘Kusksu is a delicious, warming soup made from broad beans, peas, and pearl couscous. You can add small Maltese cheeses and eggs into it. I used frozen broad beans and peas because they are not in season now, but it is worth using fresh ones. I also recommend a pinch of dried mint.’

Ingredients:

• 1 onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dry mint leaves
• 350 g broad beans (frozen or fresh)
• 300 g green beans (frozen or fresh)
• 1.5 litre chicken or vegetable stock (or both)
• 150 g pearl couscous
• 4-6 Maltese cheeses or a few spoons of ricotta
• 4-6 eggs (optional)
• fresh mint leaves and grated parmesan to serve
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

Preparation:

1. In a large pot, fry the onion in plenty of olive oil for five minutes. Add the garlic, tomato paste and mint. Fry for one minute. Add the broad beans and peas. Pour in the stock.
2. Bring the soup to a boil, then simmer for fifteen minutes. Add the couscous. If using eggs, gently crack the shells and pour into the pot. Cook for fifteen minutes. Add the Maltese cheeses and cook for another ten minutes. Season to taste.
3. Place an egg and cheese or a portion of ricotta on each plate. Pour the soup and sprinkle with parmesan and fresh mint.