Ful Medames, Egypt’s ancient and richly flavored staple

Ful medames is a deeply rooted Egyptian breakfast and street food made from fava beans slowly cooked until tender, then mashed with extra-virgin olive oil, fresh garlic, cumin, lemon juice and vegetables.

The dish is described as one of Egypt’s oldest culinary traditions. It has remained a staple food from ancient times to the present, and is commonly cooked overnight in a copper or earthenware vessel over low heat.

The recipe calls for dried small Egyptian fava beans, or canned cooked fava beans, together with a little red lentil and baking soda. Once soft, the beans are mashed while retaining some texture rather than being turned into a completely smooth purée.

A sauce of crushed garlic, lemon juice, cumin, chili and salt is stirred into the hot beans with olive oil. The dish is served in a shallow plate or clay bowl, topped with diced tomato, green pepper, parsley and more olive oil. It can be accompanied by Egyptian bread, pita, cucumber, radish and spring onion.