Foul فول مدمّس - Middle Eastern Breakfast

This dish is an all time number one favourite in our families. It is a weekly communal gathering between the Awde and Mansour families. After our husbands (Imad and Nader) come home from being away on a mission trip, the request from both is FOUL (pronounced Fool) the following morning. We often have friends and family over for breakfast and this is a traditional breakfast meal to prepare for them. As it requires no cutlery, it is a VERY bonding FUN time together.

When my boys, Danny and Marco smell Foul cooking, they run out of their bedrooms jumping and cheering "Foul, yay, Foul!!"

Serves 6

Ingredients:

2 cups Fava Beans *

1 cup Chickpeas

2.5 L water

1/2 cup Lemon juice

1 1/4 Tbs Celtic salt

4 cloves garlic

1/2 bunch coriander

Accompaniments:

Lebanese bread - fresh *

4 tomatoes, sliced

2 Lebanese cucumbers, sliced

Olive Oil, Extra Virgin Cold Pressed

Olives

Mint

Onion

Radish

Rocket

Sauerkraut

Cayenne Chilli

STEP 1: Soak the Fava beans and Chickpeas in water for a few hours. Rinse the Fava beans and chickpeas and place into a large saucepan. Cover with 5 litres of water and bring to a boil. Let boil for 20 mins and then reduce to a simmer. Let it simmer overnight for approximately 8-10 hours.

STEP 2: In the morning just before eating breakfast, scoop out the beans with a slotted spoon and place into a large mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, garlic, salt and coriander. Mash well together. If it is a little dry add some of the cooking water.

STEP 3: Place the foul into a serving dish.

STEP 4: Place all the accompaniments on the table with the foul. Serve Foul in individual serving dishes. Liberally pour olive oil on top and then place some mint leaves on top. On the side place the tomato, cucumber, olives, onion, rocket, etc… Tear bits of Lebanese bread and scoop up the foul with some vegetables and enjoy with loved ones!!

·       Fava Beans - (Arabic: فول) are a common staple food in the Middle Eastern diet, eaten by rich and poor alike. They are also called Faba beans and can be purchased from middle eastern stores, some continental delis and well stocked supermarkets.

  

* Lebanese bread 100% wholemeal - needs to be fresh and sourced from a Lebanese bakery. You can find it fresh in fruit and vegetable stores. Ask them which day the bread comes in and make sure to buy it and then use or freeze that same day. You want to have soft bread which doesn't break when folded.

'Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.'     Proverbs 15:17

Posted By Natasha and Melissa