Fava beans and Falafel (فول و طعمية)

Ful (pronounced ‘fool’)  and Falafel is breakfast for many Egyptians. Made of mashed fava beans, ful is a combination of protein and carbohydrates. It’s found in Canada but it’s not that popular, it’s very filling and contains almost 0 fat.

It’s sold in many forms in Egypt , for some the best way to eat it is from a stand. There are as many ful stands in Egypt as there are hot dog stands in NYC and Toronto. Workers usually gather around it in the morning and start their journey with 2-3 sandwiches. Usually you’ll find all average Egyptians gathered around at around 7 in the morning. I use to see them everyday on my way to school. Now it’s too expensive for an average Egyptian to eat from the well-known ful and falafel shops.

Before canned products became so popular, Ful had to be cooked in a special oval pot for 2-3 hours. It had to be boiled first then cooked in a pot with the seasonings. Usually Egyptians choose salt, pepper, cumin, and lemon as the basic seasonings but of course any other preferred seasonings can be added.

The next form of selling it would be the well-known restaurants, restaurants that have been selling it for over 30 years now. My personal favorite is El Tabei El Domyati, whenever I go back home I have there, in fact that’s the last meal I had in Cairo.

Top three Ful and Falafel shops in Egypt are:

1) Felfela 

2) Gad 

3) El Tabee El Domyati (again, personal favorite)

My friends in Egypt would think that I have pancakes and waffles for breakfast here. Funny thing is I don’t, my friends and I gather every Sunday at my friend’s patio for breakfast. Ful is an essential dish for this gathering. When I eat Ful I remember Egypt right away, I remember Egyptians and their simplicity. They never ask for too much, they can live off ful and falafel for a month without complaining. They might as well be vegetarian.

Sunday breakfast

Ful is so easy to make, first prepare the ingredients of:

1 Can fava beans 
1 Large minced Garlic (optional)
2 tsp of salt
1/4 Cup lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped tomato (optional)
1 tsp pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tbls of butter

Directions:

1.  In an electric or manual chopper, blend fava beans till it’s in a liquid form
2. In a pot melt butter, add minced garlic, then add the fava beans
3. Add salt, pepper, lemon juice, and tomatoes
4. Leave it on low heat for 7 minutes to simmer 
5. Finally put it in a serving plate and add the olive oil. Et voilà!

Falafel 

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups of chick peas (canned is easier)
• 1 cup of parsley and green coriander
• 1 cup of dill
• green onions
• Baking soda and baking powder
• 3 garlic cloves
• 2 onions
• 2 tbls. of flour
• 2 tbls. of salt and pepper
• 1/2 tsp. of cumin
• 1 tsp of dry coriander
• 1/2 cup of sesame (optional)
• Oil for frying

Directions: 

1. Grind the chick peas in an electric mixer
2. Add onions and garlic to the chick peas in the electric mixer
3. Then add flour to the mix
4. Add parsley, green coriander, dill, baking soda, baking powder, and sesame to the mix
5. Add the salt, pepper, cumin, dry coriander, and dill
6. Mix well, put it in a bowl, and then leave it for two hours in the fridge
7. Take out and ball the mix into small pieces 
8. Deep fry the balls and lay on paper towel till the oil is absorbed 

*For step-by-step picture help press here*

P.S. Tahinni is delicious with Foul and Falafel sandwiches (recipe soon).