Egyptian "Ful Medamas" (fava bean hummus)

 Ful Medamas ( an Egyptian Fava Bean dish) is a simple vegan recipe that packs a lot of taste and nutritional power. My husband, who grew up eating " ful" ( pronounced fool), says that when he was a kid, he always felt strong and healthy after eating a bowl of "ful". It's not surprising since fava beans are a very rich source if iron, fiber and other healthy minerals.

It may look and sound a little strange, but I assure you that ethnic food has been the cornerstone of  healthy civilizations for centuries. Fava beans is thought to date back to the Pharoes!

Ful Medamas is popular in many Middle Eastern countries  It  is sold on the streets of Cairo similarly to the way we sell hot dogs on the streets of New York. 

The first time I at " ful", I had to acquire a little bit of a taste for it because I had never tried anything like it!
However, it didn't take long before I was sold on this new bean ( for me)  and was digging in with everyone else. When I say digging in , I mean that literally. Everyone in our family eats their" ful" with some warm pita bread and literally just digs in.( no utensils) I eat my ful on a plate or with romaine lettuce leaves. It's sort of like refried beans that haven't been fried. I must tell you that "ful"  is filling no matter how you eat it !!

My husband's family traditionally eats their ful with a stalk of scallion in their hand .The cooked fava beans are mashed with olive oil and lemon juice and some salt ( eat this dish while the beans are hot)Each person gets a scallion stalk, takes a bite of scallion, and then takes a bite of ful and then a bite of  bread.
I don't know if that's a Middle Eastern custom or if it's It is just the way my husband's family eats their ful.

Ful is economical; I bought a bag of dried fava beans  for $2.99.

                           

 This bag makes enough ful medamas for about 3 generous meals for a family of four. However, you don't need to keep eating it all week until its gone;  cooked ful can be frozen.

The best part is that I cook the beans in a crock pot, making the prep to cook the beans about 3 minutes and cooking time about 9 hours.( you can also buy ful or fava beans in cans already cooked but I like to make my own)

Fava Beans in Crock ( this is what was left after we ate most of them)

I forgot to mention that in Egypt, Foul Medamas, is traditionally eaten for breakfast!! but we eat it for dinner.


The flavor of the beans is bland and simple. However, It comes alive when you mash the cooked beans with salt, olive oil, and fresh lemon juice.You can go crazy and add chopped tomato, chopped onion, some cumin etc.  In addition, if you are not vegan, you can add chopped hard boiled eggs if you desire. It can be quite a tasty and filling meal.

If you have never eaten fava beans, now is your chance.
They are easy to cook, easy to fix, and easy to eat!
So, Get out that crock pot and get ready for some tasty fixings!

You can purchase fava beans in any Middle Eastern ethnic store or purchase online from Amazon

Ingredients 
1 bag dried brown fava beans, soaked overnight  and drained. ( or use a can of cooked fava beans)
juice of 2 whole lemons- or less -your choice
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup olive oil or less - your choice
chopped scallions ( optional)
Chopped tomatoes, chopped onion, cumin ( optional)
2 hard boiled eggs ( optional), chopped

Directions: 
Soak fava beans overnight, discard water and put into crock pot. Cover with water and cook on high for 9 -10 hours. When beans are nice and soft, drain and place in a bowl . This recipe feeds 12 hungry " ful" eaters.

If you are just 2 adults ( unlikely that kids will try or like this) ,  prepare a cup and half  or two cups of beans and freeze the rest. Divide it in two containers for another time.

Put in jars to freeze ( leave a little space for expansion in the freezer)

Vegan Style : Make sure beans are hot when you eat them -WE Mash cooked beans with lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper and chopped scallions. Eat with romaine lettuce leaves or gluten free bread. ( you can add chopped onions, tomatoes, and cumin)

Vegetarians: Mash hot beans with lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper, chopped scallions and chopped hard boiled eggs ( and chopped tomatoes, cumin, and chopped onions). Eat with romaine lettuce leaves or gluten free bread.


** if you are not gluten free- dig in with warm pita bread.
Have you ever eaten " Ful Medamas" ? How do you eat it? 


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