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    Home » Recipes

    Foul Mudamas (Fava beans)

    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

    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 mdamas

    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.

    foul fava bean cans

    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 breakfast

    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.

    foul

    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

    4.89 from 9 votes
    Print

    Foul Mudamas (Fava beans)

    Breakfast style foul with garlic, lemon and olive oil

    Course Breakfast, Brunch
    Cuisine Lebanese
    Keyword Brunch, Healthy, Quick and Easy
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 10 minutes
    Servings 2
    Author Zaatar and Zaytoun

    Ingredients

    • 1 can of fava beans
    • 1 clove of garlic
    • A good pinch of salt
    • A pinch of cumin or 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 our Youtube page for full video tutorials, our Facebook group to discuss Lebanese cooking, as well as our tiktok page for quick tips.

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

    • Easy Salmon Cakes (Salmon Patties)
    • Zucchini Stew (Yekhnet Kousa)
    • Easy Balsamic chicken
    • Best Mediterranean Chicken Salad

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    Why not share our recipe with your friends?

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Hana

      January 01, 2020 at 1:46 pm

      5 stars
      I make this all the time now

    2. Zeina

      January 01, 2020 at 4:09 pm

      4 stars
      Delicious

    3. Boshra

      January 11, 2020 at 2:45 pm

      5 stars
      I make this all the time now thanks!

    4. Ljubica Laura

      March 04, 2020 at 8:37 am

      Foul madmaas is my absolute favourite food, hands down, nothing beats comfort in a bowl!!!

    5. Zaatar

      March 05, 2020 at 11:17 pm

      You know it!!

    6. Nazr

      March 19, 2020 at 3:06 pm

      5 stars
      Easy yet delicious recipe.

    7. Anonymous

      March 15, 2021 at 9:59 am

      5 stars
      making this every morning its been a week lmao

    8. Zaatar

      March 15, 2021 at 1:28 pm

      Lots of people have it everyday for breakfast!

    9. Tony

      November 04, 2022 at 12:30 pm

      5 stars
      So perfect! Best recipe I love your recipes

    10. Jan

      July 06, 2023 at 7:41 am

      5 stars
      When I was in Israel they make it using black favs beans with fresh garlic, parsley, lemon juice with chopped up hard boiled eggs and some olive oil. My man loves it’s much as I do. In the US I use black beans. It’s so delisous!

    11. H

      September 12, 2023 at 5:09 am

      5 stars
      Excellent, sometimes I put a bit of 7 spice on the foul to give it extra umami flavour. My kids love it. Thank you

    12. Anonymous

      September 25, 2023 at 5:53 am

      5 stars
      I love it! Why do you wash the beans after opening the can?

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    Teta

    Ahlen I'm Yosra, a Lebanon born - London based foodie. Welcome to my kitchen.

    Here you'll find recipes collected from my Lebanese Mama (pictured), some regional classics and some secret family recipes.

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    Teta

    Ahlen I'm Yosra, a Lebanon born - London based foodie. Welcome to my kitchen.

    Here you'll find recipes collected from my Lebanese Mama (pictured), some regional classics and some secret family recipes.

    More about me →

    Trending

    • Foul Mudamas (Fava beans)
    • maamoul mad b ashta
      Maamoul Mad bi Ashta (Semolina Cream Dessert)
    • Lebanese Falafel Recipe
    • Lebanese Namoura Cake (aka Basbousa)

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