Description
Ful medames is a traditional Egyptian dish made from slow-cooked fava beans mixed with aromatic spices, olive oil, fresh tomatoes, and tahini. This hearty and flavorful dish is commonly enjoyed as a wholesome breakfast or light meal, offering a comforting blend of creamy and chunky textures with a hint of lemon and spice.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 400g can fava beans (available online) or broad beans
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 100ml olive oil
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chilli flakes
- 2 large, ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped (or 200g can of chopped tomatoes)
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 2 tsp sea salt flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the Beans: Drain the canned fava beans and rinse them thoroughly. Use the empty can filled with water to measure and pour water into a saucepan with the beans. Bring to a boil to warm through, then remove from heat.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat a medium frying pan and gently fry the finely chopped onion and crushed garlic in most of the olive oil (reserve a few tablespoons) for about 5 minutes until softened. Add 2 teaspoons of sea salt flakes, ground cumin, chilli flakes, and chopped tomatoes to the pan.
- Simmer Beans: Drain the warmed beans again, reserving some of the cooking water. Add the beans to the onion and tomato mixture. Cook on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring often and adding reserved cooking liquid as needed to keep the mixture moist and prevent drying out.
- Mash and Finalize: Use a potato masher to mash the beans with the remaining olive oil, lemon juice, and tahini until you reach a chunky, soft purée consistency. If the mixture splits or becomes too thick, stir in a drop of cold water to restore texture.
Notes
- Use canned fava beans for convenience, but you can also use dried beans soaked and cooked beforehand if preferred.
- If fresh tomatoes are not in season, canned chopped tomatoes provide a great alternative.
- The dish traditionally has a chunky texture; avoid over-mashing to keep a pleasant mouthfeel.
- Adjust chilli flakes according to your heat preference.
- Serve warm with fresh bread or as part of a Middle Eastern mezze platter.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Egyptian
Keywords: Ful medames, fava beans recipe, Egyptian dish, tahini fava beans, Middle Eastern breakfast, healthy bean stew
