foooooool. fool!

فول!!

fool muddamas is arabic for breakfast in egypt.  and it is delicious. fava beans simmered with onions, garlic, a bit of cumin and hot pepper. they serve it on the streets of cairo encased in warm pita bread, alongside slow-boiled creamy pinkish eggs and lettuce. i tried it first in berkeley during my elementary arabic class' potluck.  my beautiful teacher yasmin brought it as her contribution, with fresh lemon slices and fragrant parsley as a garnish. it's been years now and though i've tried it at restaurants (carousel in hollywood comes to mind) today was the first time i've made it. it's amazingly economical to make, my can of fava beans from my local middle eastern market was a mere 59 cents. and yet its really hearty and really hits the spot for something so simple to make!

it's fool, foo.

fool muddamas - serves 4

ingredients

1 15 oz can of fava beans

1 tbsp olive oil

1 lemon

1 medium sized yellow onion, diced. (save the skin)

3 cloves of garlic minced

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp black pepper

salt to taste

1 tbsp finely chopped parsley

1.  start with a medium sized pot, and about a tbsp of olive oil over medium heat.  add the onion, garlic, cayenne pepper, and cumin.  sautee until the onion are soft and turning brown.

2. add the can of fava beans, juice and all.  add the pepper and taste before adding the salt (as the beans are usually salted).  add the juice of half the lemon and stir, mashing about half the beans. allow to simmer for about 15 minutes until the sauce is thick.

3. serve hot, garnished with the juice of the remaining half of the lemon and the chopped parsley and fresh pita bread roasted over the burner lightly.

why save that onion skin?  in egypt they slow boil their eggs in barely simmering water colored by the skin of a brown onion.  the eggs are cooked overnight, and served sliced with the fool and pita.  

i updated the lettuce garnish by making a mediterranean chopped salad with a red wine vinaigrette - with toasted chickpeas, canned crushed olives, chopped romaine lettuce, feta cheese, sliced pepperoncini, chopped red bell pepper, grape tomatoes and red onion.  

it works as a delicious brunch, and the fool and pita really is the perfect breakfast for a long day.  or you could stick it in a food processor and roughly blend it and serve it as a dip to rival hummus (that's right, RIVAL HUMMUS!) please try it.  i know its' name is rather silly in english but you're a fool if you don't love it. hardee-har-har. 

oh, you love me.