Egyptian Fava Beans with Tahini & Pita Bread

This dish, also known in Arabic as ful medames is a vegan stew of fava beans, cumin & other ingredients. My friend Tareq made this meal for me awhile back, a staple breakfast dish in Egypt. (where he's from) According to Wikipedia there is some evidence that Ful can be traced all the way back to ancient Egypt. (woah) There are variations to the recipe, but this is how he made it and what I wanted to recreate at home.  Fava beans simmered with onion, garlic, tomato & cumin then topped with a quick tahini sauce. Add a sprinkle of parsley and plenty of warm pita bread for scooping... it's delicious. I love simple food and now that I've made this a few times at home I know it will be something I revisit often. It's a nice change from a typical North American breakfast....or any meal of the day for that matter. I discovered a bit of spinach or baby kale wilted in at the end is a nice addition too. 

Recipe: Fava Beans with Tahini & Pita Bread

Fava Beans

Ingredients:

•  veg oil for sautéing 
•  1 large onion, chopped
•  6 cloves garlic, chopped
•  1.5 tsp cumin
•  2 cans fava beans (keep liquid)
•  1 tomato, small dice
•  1 tbsp tomato paste
•  couple glugs of olive oil
•  squeeze of lemon
•  salt to taste (a few good pinches)
•  cracked black pepper to taste

​Method

1.  Sautee onion & garlic in a bit of vegetable oil until softened
2.  Stir in cumin and tomato paste, cook for another minute or so
3.  Add diced tomato, and 2 cans of fava beans WITH their liquid
4.  Bring to a simmer and add olive oil, salt, pepper & lemon. 
5.  Simmer for about 30 minutes, or until desired consistency. I've had it when it's a bit on the thinner side and when it's reduced and thickened. It's good both ways. Either way use a masher and mash about half of the fava beans before serving. 
6.  Taste, adjust seasonings & serve with tahini sauce, chopped parsley & pita bread

Tahini Sauce

•  Tahini
•  Olive Oil
•  Water
•  Garlic
•  Lemon
•  Salt & Pepper

1. I never measure for the sauce. I just spoon maybe 1/2 cup of tahini into a bowl, whisk in a drizzle of olive oil and then whisk in just a little bit of water to thin it out. You could keep the tahini thick if that's your thing. You could spoon tahini from the jar onto your fava beans. I don't care. Just as long as there is tahini in the equation. 
2.  Add in a clove or 2 of minced garlic, a squeeze or 2 of lemon, pinch of salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as you wish.