Ful
ፉልAlso known as Shahan ful, foul, fava bean breakfast · Both
Ful is a warm, hearty fava bean breakfast eaten across the Horn of Africa and the Middle East, and the Habesha version leans on berbere, niter kibbeh, and a generous crown of toppings. You mash the beans just enough to stay chunky, then build the bowl with yogurt, raw onion and tomato, egg, feta, and a shake of berbere, and scoop it up with bread. It is a favorite during Ramadan and Orthodox fasting because it is easy to make vegan.
Method
- 1
Warm the niter kibbeh or oil in a saucepan and cook the onion until soft, about 5 minutes.
- 2
Add the garlic, cumin, and berbere if using, and stir for a minute until fragrant, then add the tomato and jalapeno and cook until pulpy.
- 3
Add the drained favas and the water and bring to a low simmer.
- 4
Simmer 5 to 10 minutes until the beans are hot and most of the liquid has cooked down.
- 5
Mash coarsely with the back of a spoon or a potato masher. Leave it chunky, with plenty of whole and half beans; do not puree it smooth like hummus.
- 6
Season well with salt, because favas are bland and need it, then spoon into a wide bowl.
- 7
Build the top: a dollop of yogurt in the middle, then little piles of chopped tomato, onion, and green pepper, a halved hard-boiled egg, crumbled feta or ayib, a pinch of berbere, and a drizzle of oil or niter kibbeh. Serve hot with bread to scoop by hand.
Cook's notes
- The toppings are the dish, not a garnish. The contrast of cool yogurt, raw crunch, and hot berbere over the warm beans is the whole point.
- Canned fava beans are completely standard here and save the overnight soak. Just drain and rinse them well.
Common questions
Can I make ful vegan?+
Yes. Use oil instead of niter kibbeh and leave off the egg, yogurt, and feta. It is a go-to breakfast during Orthodox fasting and Ramadan for exactly that reason.
Dried or canned favas?+
Canned ful medames is the easy, authentic default. Dried favas soaked overnight and simmered until soft give a slightly deeper flavor if you have the time.
More breakfast
Need the teff, berbere, or spices? Find a Habesha market near you.
Find a market