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Sudanese Ful Medames

Yields4 ServingsPrep Time15 minsCook Time20 minsTotal Time35 mins

Tender fava beans seasoned with cumin and lemon. 

Ful medames with tender fava beans, fresh herbs and an oil drizzle

Ingredients
 3 cans cooked fava beans (15 oz each), drained and rinsed
 1 cup water
 2 cloves garlic, minced
 1 tsp ground cumin
 ½ tsp fine salt, plus more to taste
 ¼ tsp ground black pepper
 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil or extra-virgin olive oil
 1 large ripe tomato, diced
 ½ small red onion, finely diced
 1 small cucumber, diced
 ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
 1 small fresh green chile, thinly sliced, optional
 4 wedges of lemon, for serving
Directions
1

Place the drained fava beans, water, garlic, and cumin in a medium saucepan.

2

Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beans are very tender and the liquid has reduced slightly.

3

Use a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon to mash about one-third of the beans, leaving the rest whole for texture.

4

Stir in the salt, black pepper, and lemon juice. Simmer for 2 more minutes and add a splash of hot water if the beans are too thick.

5

Combine the tomato, red onion, cucumber, parsley, and optional green chile in a small bowl.

6

Spoon the hot beans into shallow bowls and drizzle each serving with sesame oil.

7

Top with the fresh vegetable mixture and serve immediately with lemon wedges and warm flatbread if desired.

Notes

Sesame oil gives this version a distinctly Sudanese finish. For a richer plate, add crumbled white cheese or wedges of hard-boiled egg at serving time. Serve with warm flatbread. Refrigerate the bean mixture and toppings separately for up to 4 days. Nutrition is an estimate and does not include bread or optional toppings.

Nutrition Facts

4 servings

Serving size

1 1/2 cups

Amount per serving
Calories390
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 14g18%

Saturated Fat 2g10%
Sodium 590mg26%
Total Carbohydrate 54g20%

Dietary Fiber 16g58%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 19g

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.