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–+ servings

Foul Medames

Foul medames is a traditional Egyptian fava bean recipe that has been enjoyed for centuries across the Middle East and North Africa. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients like fava beans, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil, this naturally vegan dish is known for its rich, hearty flavour and satisfying texture. It’s commonly served as a breakfast, lunch, or side dish, often paired with warm flatbread for scooping.
This easy foul medames recipe is my own twist on the classic. While inspired by authentic Egyptian flavours, I’ve added sautéed onion, bell pepper, and a touch of spice to give it extra depth and a slightly sweeter, more layered taste. It’s still a quick and healthy fava bean dish at heart—just a little more personalised, and perfect if you’re looking for a simple, flavour-packed vegan meal to make at home.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Breakfast, Lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine: Egyptian, Middle-Eastern, North-African
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tsp Olive oil extra virgin
  • 4 cloves Garlic
  • 1 Onion
  • 1 Red Bell pepper or sweet Palermo
  • 1 Green Chili pepper optional for heat
  • 1 can Fava Beans
  • 1 cup Water
  • 1/2 Lemon Juice of half a lemon
  • 1 tsp Coriander powder
  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black pepper
  • 2 tbsp parsley garnish
  • 2 tbsp olive oil garnish

Method
 

Prepping
  1. Dice your onion and bell pepper
  2. Crush the garlic
  3. Juice half of the lemon
  4. Finely chop the parsley
Cooking
  1. Add in a pan olive oil, garlic and onion, stir until fragrant
  2. Add the Bell Pepper and the optional Green Chili Pepper cook for a couple of minutes until soft
  3. Drain and wash your can of fava beans and add to the pan along with a cup of water and the lemon juice
  4. Add the seasoning (coriander, cumin, salt, pepper), stir it all together and put the lid on the pan. Leave it for 10 minutes on a medium/low fire.
  5. Take the lid off and use a tool to mash everything, it might still be a little firm. put the lid back on and let it cook for another 5 minutes. Now you can mash it again.
Serving
  1. Serve it on a plate and make a circle in the middle to pour olive oil in, then top it with the parsley

Notes

Tips & Notes

Use good quality fava beans 
Canned fava beans keep this recipe quick and simple, but it’s worth choosing a good quality brand. If you want a more traditional approach, you can use dried fava beans—just soak and cook them ahead of time.
Adjust the texture to your liking 
Foul medames can be as chunky or as smooth as you like. Mash it lightly if you want more texture, or mash it down fully and add a splash of water for a softer, creamier result.
Taste as you go 
The balance of lemon and salt really makes the dish. Add the lemon juice gradually and adjust the seasoning to your taste, especially if your beans already contain salt.
Add heat if you like 
The green chili is completely optional. Leave it out for a milder version, or add more if you prefer a bit of spice.
Finish with olive oil 
A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil right before serving brings everything together and adds a bit of richness.
Make it your own 
This is a flexible dish. You can add toppings like fresh herbs, tomatoes, or a little extra cumin depending on what you like.
Serve it warm or cold 
It’s great served warm straight from the pan, but it also works really well cold. The flavours deepen as it sits, which makes it perfect for leftovers or meal prep.
Reheating 
If you’re warming it up again, just add a splash of water and heat it gently so it loosens up without drying out.

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