Ful Medames
A traditional Egyptian vegetarian dish of mashed fava beans seasoned with olive oil, lemon, garlic, and cumin, typically served with bread and fresh toppings.
Steps
- 1
Simmer drained broad beans in fresh water in a large pot, covered, until tender (about 120–150 minutes), adding water as needed to keep them covered.
- 2
When the beans are tender, reduce the liquid and mash a portion of the beans with some cooking liquid to thicken the sauce.
- 3
Season with salt and pepper and adjust to taste.
- 4
Serve the beans in bowls topped with chopped parsley and a drizzle of olive oil, with Arab bread on the side and lemon wedges for squeezing.
- 5
Pass around dressing ingredients for everyone to customize: extra-virgin olive oil, quartered lemons, salt and pepper, crushed garlic, chili flakes, and ground cumin.
- 6
Gently crush the beans with a fork to absorb the dressing as you eat.
- 7
Optional garnishes: hard-boiled eggs (one per person) or a cucumber-tomato salad with onions; or offer additional toppings such as pickles and onions in vinegar.
- 8
Another serving variation is to smother the beans in a garlicky tomato sauce; in Syria and Lebanon, they are sometimes eaten with yogurt, feta, olives, and small cucumbers.
- 9
Variations: thickening the sauce with a handful of red lentils added at the start, or using different beans in places like Iraq (badkila).
