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Close-up of a hearty chickpea stew garnished with fresh herbs, served in a rustic brown bowl.

Egyptian stewed fava beans with lemon and cumin

Ful Medames

Ful Medames

25 minEasy

Prep Time

10 min

Cook Time

15 min

Total Time

25 min

Servings

4

3 cups

Difficulty

Easy

Cost

Budget

$

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Ful Medames

Egyptian stewed fava beans with lemon and cumin

Egypt's national breakfast dish of slow-cooked fava beans mashed with garlic, lemon, and cumin. Hearty, protein-rich, and incredibly satisfying topped with olive oil and fresh herbs.

10m

Prep Time

15m

Cook Time

25m

Total Time

4

Servings

Easy

Difficulty

Budget $

Cost

Mediterranean CuisineMain CourseBreakfastVeganGluten-Free
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen

April 11, 2023(Updated April 13, 2026)

Ful medames has fueled Egypt for millennia—creamy stewed fava beans seasoned simply with lemon, garlic, and cumin. It's comfort food at its most elemental and nourishing.

Why This Recipe Works

Slow cooking breaks down the fava beans into a creamy, hearty mash. The combination of acid from lemon and warmth from cumin creates a simple but deeply satisfying flavor profile.

Ingredients

  • 2 cans (15 oz each) fava beans, drained
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt, parsley, and tomato for garnish

Instructions

  1. 1

    Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Sauté garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.

  2. 2

    Add fava beans with 1/2 cup water. Simmer 10 minutes, mashing some beans for a creamy texture.

  3. 3

    Stir in lemon juice, cumin, and salt to taste.

  4. 4

    Cook 3-4 more minutes until thick and creamy, adding water if needed.

  5. 5

    Serve in bowls topped with diced tomato, chopped parsley, olive oil, and a hard-boiled egg if desired.

Serving Suggestions

Ways to Serve This Dish

  • Serve with crusty artisan bread for dipping

  • Finish with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil

  • Pair with a simple arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette

  • Serve alongside fresh fruit and your favorite morning beverage

Substitutions

Fava beansButter beans or cannellini beans

Similar creamy texture when mashed

CuminCoriander

Different but complementary warm spice flavor

DepthPantry

Test Kitchen Pick

Olive Oil

Helpful Pantry Staple

Why the olive oil matters

On recipes like this, olive oil is not just a background fat. A better bottle gives you cleaner flavor and a better finish.

This is one of the few pantry upgrades that keeps paying off every time you cook in this lane.

  • Useful in dressings, sauces, and finishing
  • Improves flavor without changing the recipe structure

A good bottle of olive oil is one of the safest pantry upgrades for Mediterranean and Italian cooking.

Shop olive oil for this recipe

Tips & Storage

Pro Tips

  • Mash about half the beans and leave the rest whole for the best texture.

  • Serve with warm pita bread for an authentic Egyptian breakfast experience.

Storage

Refrigerate for up to 4 days. The flavor improves overnight.

Reheating

Reheat on the stove with a splash of water to loosen.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (0mg) · 4 servings

Calories220
LowModerateHigh

A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet

Protein12g
Carbohydrates8g
Fat28g
Fiber380mg
Sugar8g
Sodium2g

Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use dried fava beans?
Yes, soak overnight and cook 1-2 hours until very tender before seasoning.
What if I can't find fava beans?
Large butter beans or cannellini beans are the closest substitutes.

Explore More

More Mediterranean RecipesMore Main CourseMore BreakfastVegan RecipesGluten-Free RecipesStovetop Recipes
Sarah Chen

About Sarah Chen

Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.

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