Foul Mudammas (Garlicky Fava Bean Breakfast)

Foul mudammas is the breakfast that fuels the Levant — a pot of creamy fava beans simmered with garlic, lemon, and cumin, served steaming with tomatoes and olive oil. In Syria it is eaten with warm bread at any hour, from before sunrise to late at night, and it has fed the region for centuries. It is cheap, nourishing, and deeply satisfying, the definition of good home cooking. Every cook has an opinion on the exact amount of garlic, and every version is correct.

Garlicky fava beans, the breakfast of champions

Mash some of the beans and leave others whole, and you get a bowl of contrasting textures: thick and creamy, with tender beans that pop between your teeth. Garlic, lemon, and cumin give it a bright, savory punch, and a generous pour of olive oil rounds it all out. Top with diced tomato and parsley, scoop it up with warm pita, and start the day the Syrian way.

Craving more? Explore all Syrian Kitchen recipes.

Stocking a Middle Eastern pantry? Our guide to 20 essential Middle Eastern pantry ingredients covers everything this dish uses.

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