Ful Medames – Egypt & Sudan
A classic suhoor powerhouse: warm fava beans with olive oil, lemon, and spices. Filling, affordable, and seriously satisfying.
Serves: 2–4 people
Time: 15–20 minutes (using canned fava beans)
Ingredients
Main
2 cans fava beans (ful medames) (or 1 large can)
(If you only find “fava beans” that’s fine too — just rinse well.)2–3 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp ground cumin
Salt + black pepper to taste
Optional toppings (pick your favourites)
Chopped parsley or coriander
Diced tomatoes
Chopped cucumber
Sliced red onion
Sliced boiled eggs
Olives
Chilli flakes or chopped green chilli
Extra olive oil
To serve
Warm pita/khubz or flatbread
Step-by-step
1) Warm the beans
Open the cans and pour beans (with their liquid) into a saucepan.
Heat on medium for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2) Mash to your preferred texture
Use a spoon or potato masher to lightly mash some beans.
Mash a little = chunky
Mash more = creamy
(Most people do a mix.)
3) Add the classic flavour
Add garlic + cumin + salt + pepper.
Stir for 1–2 minutes so the flavours melt into the beans.
4) Lemon + olive oil finish (the signature!)
Turn off the heat. Stir in lemon juice.
Drizzle olive oil generously on top.
5) Top it your way
Add any toppings you like: parsley, tomatoes, onion, chilli, eggs, olives.
Serving ideas
Scoop it up with warm bread
Pair with yoghurt, cucumber, or dates for a complete suhoor