Ful Medames
Egypt's breakfast staple and one of the world's oldest dishes — fava beans slow-cooked with lemon, garlic, and cumin, drizzled with olive oil and eaten with warm bread.
About This Recipe
Ful medames is arguably the world's oldest continuously prepared dish, with evidence of fava beans in Egyptian cooking dating back to the Pharaohs. It remains Egypt's most beloved breakfast, eaten by millions every morning from the Nile Delta to Upper Egypt. Street vendors called 'ful carts' serve it from enormous copper pots that have been simmering through the night. The Egyptian version uses cumin and lemon as its defining flavors, finished with a generous pour of green olive oil.
Ingredients
Serves 4
- 400 gcanned fava beans(drained and rinsed)
- 4 clovesgarlic(minced)
- 3 tbsplemon juice
- 2 tspground cumin
- 3 tbspextra virgin olive oil
- 1 smalltomato(diced, to serve)
- 2 tbspparsley(chopped)
- 1 tspsalt
- 1/2 tspchili flakes
Instructions
- 1
Warm the beans
Heat beans in a saucepan with 100ml water. Crush about half the beans with a fork to create a creamy texture.
- 2
Season
Stir in garlic, lemon juice, cumin, salt, and chili flakes. Cook 5 more minutes.
- 3
Plate
Spoon into bowls. Drizzle generously with olive oil.
- 4
Garnish and serve
Top with diced tomato and fresh parsley. Serve with warm pita or Egyptian aish baladi bread.
Pro Tips
- →
Crush some beans for texture — not all of them
- →
High-quality olive oil makes a big difference here
Variations
- •
Top with a fried or poached egg
- •
Add tahini for a creamier version
Storage
Keeps 3 days refrigerated. Reheat with a splash of water and re-season. Add garnishes fresh.
History & Origin
Ful medames has been eaten in Egypt for at least 4,000 years, mentioned in Coptic manuscripts and found in archaeological sites. It is one of humanity's oldest continuously consumed dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is ful medames?
Evidence of fava beans as food in Egypt dates back 4,000+ years — it may be one of humanity's oldest continuously eaten dishes.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving · 4 servings total
Time Summary
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