Ful Medames Recipe
Ful Medames is a traditional Middle Eastern dish featuring red fava beans and chickpeas simmered to tender perfection, then mashed to a chunky texture and mixed with a fresh tomato, parsley, olive oil, and lemon dressing. This hearty and flavorful dish is perfect for breakfast or as a wholesome meal served with pita bread and fresh vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
Beans
- 1 can Red or brown fava beans (14 fl oz / 398 ml)
- 1 can Chickpeas (14 fl oz / 398 ml)
- ½ tsp Ground cumin (adjust to taste)
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Dressing and Garnish
- 1 Medium tomato, finely diced
- ¼ cup Fresh parsley, chopped
- 1–2 Hot peppers, minced (optional)
- 1 Garlic clove, minced (optional, use as desired)
- 2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice
- Additional olive oil and lemon juice for garnishing
Instructions
- Boil: In a small pot over medium heat, combine the canned red fava beans and chickpeas along with their liquids. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 5-8 minutes until the beans are fork tender. Season the beans with ground cumin, kosher salt, and black pepper to taste.
- Mash: Using the back of a fork or a potato masher, mash approximately half of the beans directly in the pot. Aim for a chunky texture. If the mixture is too thick, add a small amount of water to loosen it slightly while maintaining some runniness.
- Make dressing: In a small bowl, combine the finely diced tomato, chopped parsley, olive oil, and lemon juice. Season with a pinch of salt to enhance the flavors.
- Mix in: Stir half of the dressing mixture into the mashed beans and warm the combined ingredients over low heat. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Dress: Transfer the bean mixture to a serving bowl. Spoon the remaining fresh dressing over the top, then drizzle generously with extra virgin olive oil and an extra squeeze of lemon juice. Serve warm with pita bread and fresh vegetables for a complete meal.
Notes
- Use canned beans with their liquids to help keep the dish moist and flavorful during cooking.
- Adjust the amount of cumin and hot peppers to suit your preferred spice level.
- To make this dish vegan and vegetarian, ensure no animal products are added beyond those listed.
- Adding a little water when mashing helps achieve the classic slightly runny consistency of ful medames.
- Serve with warm pita bread and fresh vegetables like cucumbers and radishes for a traditional experience.
Keywords: Ful Medames, fava beans, chickpeas, Middle Eastern breakfast, mashed beans, vegan, healthy beans recipe
Find it online: https://nataliereeve.com/ful-medames-recipe/
