Foul Mudamas by Zaatar and Zaytoun - Lebanese Recipes and Food Blog (2024)

Foul (pronounced fool) when done right is one of the most comforting breakfasts you can make.

Soft garlicky lemony beans with a hint of cumin that you can scoop up with fresh bread are guaranteed to kick off your day with a tummy hug.

Apologies if I am dreaming about breakfast. In fact, I'm one of those people who adore a cooked breakfast so much that I have one with my son when he wakes up (around 6AM) and then another one when my husband wakes up (much later) 😂

Don't even get me started about how much I love brunch with friends.

Foul Mudamas by Zaatar and Zaytoun - Lebanese Recipes and Food Blog (1)

Here is the video below on how to make it:

What is Foul?

Foul mudamas is a popular dish across the Levantine and Middle East region. The Egyptians have even made it their national dish such is it's importance in their diet.

Sometimes it is topped with a fried egg but the basic requirement is the Fava bean, also known as 'foul' in Arabic.

The 'mudamas' part refers to the way it is prepped and describes how it is 'mashed' or 'mixed' with other ingredients.

It is rare to find foul mudamas served boiled whole and by itself without anything else to spice it up.

Known for it's many health benefits it is a great source of protein especially if you are vegan.

You can buy the smaller or larger varieties it doesn't really matter which, and when you prepare it you can even add some 'shatta' or crushed chillis to give it a kick, depending on your spice tolerance.

Foul Mudamas by Zaatar and Zaytoun - Lebanese Recipes and Food Blog (2)

You can spend hours soaking and cooking your own beans but it is perfectly acceptable to use cans in this situation, some even come with their own flavour blend so all you have to do is heat it up.

Don't get me wrong, if you do want to soak your own beans and have the time then go for it.

It's just that overall, when you add the spices and lemon, it doesn't make a massive difference to justify doing it every time.

Especially not at 6 AM or whenever you like to have your breakfast.

Variations

I like getting the fava and chickpea mix and adding my own seasoning which only takes 2 minutes.

When you heat up the beans, give them a light mashing and keep some of the water in the mix as you don't want them too dry.

I've also heard of people adding lentils to the mix but haven't tried it myself. Let me know how it goes if you think it improves the flavour.

Foul Mudamas by Zaatar and Zaytoun - Lebanese Recipes and Food Blog (4)

Serving suggestions

In Lebanon if you go to a specialist foul shop, they give you a complimentary plate of pickles, tomatoes, herbs, radishes and olives.

It's ok if you don't have everything available at home, just slice up what you have in the fridge.

The freshest flat breads will elevate the whole thing, but in the UK I don't always have access to the freshest of fresh flat breads so I freeze pitta bread and toast them just before serving

Note: try to get pitta breads from a Middle Eastern shop and not supermarkets where I have yet to buy good pittas.

As always, a good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and lemon makes all the difference.

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Foul is traditionally served in little terracotta plates. They really are brilliant at keeping the plate of foul warm and have the perfect angle to scoop up your mouthful.

You can source them from giant online retailers these days and they are also great for serving up hummus or baba ganoush.

Even though it is traditionally eaten at breakfast, lots of people also have it for dinner as a filling and nutritious option.

When you make foul mudamas this good, you won't be saying no to having it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

📖 Recipe

Foul Mudamas (Fava beans)

Breakfast style foul with garlic, lemon and olive oil

CourseBreakfast, Brunch

CuisineLebanese

KeywordBrunch, Healthy, Quick and Easy

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings 2

Author Zaatar and Zaytoun

Ingredients

  • 1can of fava beans
  • 1cloveof garlic
  • A good pinch of salt
  • A pinch of cuminor kamouneh
  • A good squeeze of lemon
  • A good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. Open a can of fava beans and rinse the beans. Transfer to a small pot and cover with water and heat up for five minutes

  2. Meanwhile in a wide bowl, add the salt and bash the garlic clove with a pestle. Add the cumin (or kamouneh) and lemon. Mix

  3. Scoop out the beans onto the garlic, taking a little splash of the water as you do not want the beans too dry or too runny.

  4. Partially press some of the beans with a fork so some are squished and some are not. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary

  5. Spoon the foul into a shallow bowl and drizzle some extra virgin olive oil

  6. Garnish with finely chopped tomatoes and parsley (optional)

  7. Serve with flat breads and a small side plate of pickles, sliced tomatoes, mint, olives, radishes and cucumber.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

You can also use a mix of fava beans and chickpeas.

You can add a pinch of chilli paste if you like things spicy.

If you make any of our recipes let us know how it went by giving us a star rating below.

Check out ourYoutubepage for full video tutorials, ourFacebook groupto discuss Lebanese cooking, as well as ourtiktok pagefor quick tips.

Other recipes you might like from the Zaatar and Zaytoun collection:

  • Meat and Tomato Stir Fry
  • Lebanese chicken marinade with yoghurt
  • Lebanese Spicy Fish (Samke Harra)
  • Lemon garlic steak with fries
Foul Mudamas by Zaatar and Zaytoun - Lebanese Recipes and Food Blog (2024)

FAQs

What is foul Mudammas made of? ›

What is Ful Medames? This ancient breakfast dish, originating in Egypt and then migrating to other countries such as Lebanon, Iraq, Ethiopia, Sudan and Morocco, is traditionally made by mashing fava beans cooked with cumin and then serving with olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and chopped fresh parsley.

Is foul mudammas healthy? ›

Ful mudammas is a traditional breakfast menu that is very healthy because it contains lots of fiber, iron, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus. To make it more filling, ful mudammas are often eaten together with Egyptian buns.

How to make foul shami? ›

Pour the fava beans, with their liquid, into a pot, add a glass of water, and heat on the stove for 20-30 minutes on medium heat until hot and soft. Pour them into a colander to drain. While the beans are heating, mix the diced tomato, the minced parsley, the minced onion and the minced garlic in a bowl on the side.

What is Arabic foul made of? ›

Ful medames (Arabic: فول مدمس, fūl midammis IPA: [fuːl meˈdammes]; other spellings include ful mudammas and foule mudammes, in Coptic: ⲫⲉⲗ phel or fel), or simply fūl, is a stew of cooked fava beans served with olive oil, cumin, and optionally with chopped parsley, garlic, onion, lemon juice, chili pepper and other ...

Why avoid fava beans? ›

Favism is an inherited disease in which a person lacks an enzyme called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). When these people eat fava beans, they develop a condition called hemolytic anemia. This anemia causes red blood cells to break apart and block blood vessels.

Are too many fava beans bad for you? ›

But for some reason, eating beans can result in more than just bloating and flatulence. Fava beans, also known as broad beans, can cause some people to experience a sudden rapid breakdown of their red blood cells, a condition known as hemolytic anemia.

Do fava beans lower cholesterol? ›

For their relatively small size, fava beans pack an incredible amount of nutrients. In particular, they're rich in plant protein, folate and several other vitamins and minerals. They're also loaded with soluble fiber that can aid digestion and lower cholesterol levels ( 1 , 2 ).

Are fava beans the same as lima beans? ›

Although favas are often compared to both lima beans and peas, there are noticeable differences. "Their taste and textures differ significantly," says Welsh. "Cooked fresh peas taste vegetal—almost leafy—and lima beans taste earthy and starchy. Favas, however, are grassy, yet creamy."

Are canned fava beans ready to eat? ›

Fava Beans – California Garden. California Garden brand offers a full line of canned beans to suit consumers wide-ranging needs and variable regional tastes. We have developed a full line of ready-to-eat Fava bean recipes to suit the local taste of the many Countries we serve.

What is the history of foul Mudammas? ›

Anyway, this is Ful Medames, an ancient dish made of mashed fava beans that is generally associated with Egypt. This dish likely predates Islam, meaning that it is thousands of years old. Fava beans, like chickpeas, peas, and lentils, are legumes from the Old World, originating in Southwest Asia about 8,000 years ago.

Are fava beans and broad beans the same? ›

A member of the legume family, broad beans are pretty hardy and adaptable – they grow in most soils and climates. They're a great source of protein and carbohydrates, as well as vitamins A, B1 and B2. In the US, they're known as fava beans.

Which countries eat fava beans? ›

They are widely used in Egyptian, Iranian, North African, and Middle Eastern cuisines. But I was surprised to learn that in Columbia, China, Japan, and Ethiopia, the fava bean is a staple in cooking as well.

What is the toxin in fava beans? ›

Fava beans contain the compounds vicine and convicine. These chemicals are metabolized to divicine and isouramil, which are potent oxidizing agents. In persons with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, these compounds cause hemolysis by disrupting the red cell wall.

Are Egyptian fava beans healthy? ›

Rich in flavonoids, fava beans offer more than a tasty bite; they provide potent antioxidants that combat oxidative stress and inflammation. These anti-inflammatory properties are crucial, especially for those managing conditions like arthritis, offering a natural avenue to mitigate discomfort and promote well-being.

What is Greek fava made of? ›

Contrary to what you might think from the name, Greek fava is not made from fava beans (broad beans). Instead, the word fáva (φάβα) in Greek actually refers to yellow split peas, which are cultivated on the island of Santorini and are the starring ingredient in this yellow split pea dip.

Are fava beans sprayed with pesticides? ›

The use of pre-harvest applications of glyphosate is registered on faba bean and may be used to control perennial weeds, in the following crop, such as: Quackgrass.

References

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