Foul Medames, broad bean dish, Egypt

Foul medames is one of the flagship dishes of Egyptian cuisine, prized for its simplicity and rich flavors. Typically served for breakfast, it's also perfect for lunch or dinner. This naturally gluten-free dish consists of simmered fava beans seasoned with a blend of spices, lemon juice, and olive oil, and may be accompanied by hard-boiled eggs and tomatoes.

Preparation time 5 mins

Cooking time 10 mins

Total time 15 mins

Cooking method: traditional

Difficulty: beginner

Servings: 4

Ingredients

400 g dried beans (or canned to save time)
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 small red onion, finely chopped
3 tbsp olive oil
Juice of a lemon
1 tsp ground cumin
Salt, pepper, chilli to taste
Chopped fresh parsley to garnish
Diced tomatoes and hard-boiled eggs (optional)

Preparation

1
Preparation of the beans:
2
If using dried beans, let them soak in water for 8 to 12 hours. Drain and rinse.
3
Cook the beans in a pan of water for 1 to 1.5 hours, until they are tender. If using canned beans, rinse and drain them, then proceed directly to the next step.
4
Seasoning and assembly:
5
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat and add the crushed garlic. Brown it for about 1 minute.
6
Add the cooked beans to the pan, cumin, salt and pepper. Lightly crush some of the beans with the back of a spoon to release their starch and thicken the mixture. Add a glass of water and cook for 3 minutes.
7
Pour in the lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Stir well and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
8
Service :
9
Transfer the foul medames to a serving bowl and garnish with the red onion, fresh parsley and diced tomatoes.
10
Add the halved hard-boiled eggs if desired, for a more complete version of the dish.

Note

Foul medames goes perfectly with a touch of tahini or a little pepper to enhance the flavors. For a complete brunch, serve it with a fresh salad and olives.

Keywords: foul recipe ladies, gluten-free fava bean recipe, Egyptian recipe