Description
Ful Medames is a traditional Middle Eastern dish featuring slow-simmered fava beans flavored with cumin, garlic, and onions, creating a hearty and savory spread. Typically served warm with fresh toppings like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and pita bread, this recipe is a comforting and satisfying vegetarian meal perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium red onion, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 (14.5 ounce) cans fava beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 1/2 cups water
Optional Toppings
- Cherry tomatoes
- Sliced cucumbers
- Pita bread
- Fresh herbs (such as parsley or cilantro)
- Feta cheese
- Extra olive oil
- Sea salt
Instructions
- Sauté Onions: Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, and once hot, add the sliced onion. Sauté the onion for 7 to 8 minutes until it starts to brown and caramelize, enhancing its sweetness and flavor.
- Add Garlic and Spices: Add the minced garlic to the pot and sauté for 30 seconds, then stir in the cumin, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Cook and stir for an additional 30 seconds until the spices become fragrant.
- Cook Fava Beans: Add the drained and rinsed fava beans along with 1 1/2 cups of water. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Let it simmer uncovered for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld and soften the beans further.
- Blend Mixture: Remove the pot from heat and allow the bean mixture to cool slightly. Use a blender, immersion blender, or food processor to blend the beans until mostly broken down but still slightly chunky to retain some texture.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve the ful medames warm, garnished with optional fresh herbs, a drizzle of olive oil, extra sea salt, and your choice of toppings such as cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, or crumbled feta cheese. Toast pita bread on the side for dipping and scooping.
Notes
- Use canned fava beans for convenience and quicker cooking time; dried fava beans require soaking and longer cooking.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and cumin, to suit your preference.
- For a creamier texture, blend longer until smooth; for chunkier texture, pulse gently to retain some bean pieces.
- Serve ful medames as a breakfast dish traditionally, or enjoy it as a hearty lunch or dinner.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
