Creamy, slow-simmered fava beans mashed with garlic, lemon, and cumin, drizzled with olive oil and topped with fresh vegetables. This ancient dish is the bedrock of Palestinian breakfast culture.
Nutrition & Info
Equipment Needed
Instructions
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1
Soak dried fava beans overnight in plenty of water. Drain, rinse, and place in a heavy pot with fresh water.
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2
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1.5-2 hours until the beans are very tender and beginning to break down.
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3
Drain most of the liquid, reserving some. Mash about half the beans with a potato masher, leaving the rest whole for texture.
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4
Stir in crushed garlic, lemon juice, cumin, chili flakes, and salt. Add reserved cooking liquid if the mixture is too thick.
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5
Divide among bowls. Drizzle each generously with olive oil and top with diced tomatoes, onions, and chopped parsley.
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6
Serve with warm pita bread for scooping and optional hard-boiled eggs on the side.
Did You Know?
Palestinian street vendors start cooking ful at midnight, simmering it slowly through the night so it is perfectly creamy by the dawn breakfast rush.
Chef's Notes
Equipment Tips
- heavy pot
- potato masher
- serving bowls
The Story Behind Ful Mudammas
Ful mudammas is one of the oldest continuously consumed dishes in human history, with evidence of fava bean cultivation in the Levant and Egypt dating back over 5,000 years. In Palestine, ful is the quintessential breakfast, sold by street vendors from massive copper pots that have simmered through the night. The slow cooking transforms humble dried beans into something rich, creamy, and deeply satisfying. Each neighborhood has its favorite ful vendor, and loyalty to one's ful man is taken very seriously in Palestinian culture.
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