Arabic Fuul Mudammas

Fuul mudammas is one of the national dishes of Sudan and Egypt, often eaten at breakfast. Though originally a peasant food, it has long been part of the daily Egyptians' diet. It is particularly renowned for being a very filling dish, with many describing it as being 'like a stone in the stomach'. This has led to it being consumed by many in the Middle East in the early morning meal to prepare for a day of fasting during Ramadan. The dish's name derives from the Egyptian language: ful is derived from the Egyptian word for fava beans, and mudammas is a Coptic word meaning "buried." The second word hints at the original cooking method, which involved burying a sealed pot of water and beans under hot coals. Thankfully, you won't have to bury anything to enjoy this flavorful dish! Bon appetit!

Ingredients:

-1 whole onion
-2 Maggi chicken bouillon cubes (available at any Indian, Pakistani, or Arabic grocer. If you don't want to use these, you may substitute one cup of chicken broth instead.)
-1/4 cup vegetable oil, ghee, or butter
-2 cans fava beans
-1 tbsp. salt
-1 small can tomato paste
-2 limes
-5 boiled eggs
-2 tbsp. garlic

*Heat the ghee/vegetable oil/butter and sauté the onion.

*Cover and leave it for at least 3 minutes.

*When the onion becomes red and close to dark red, add the chicken bouillon cubes and stir for 1 minute.

*Add the garlic and cover pan for 2 minutes.

*Make sure your stove is not too high but on medium heat.

*Add the tomato paste and a little water and leave it for at least 30 minutes on medium heat.

*After the tomato and everything is cooked well, add the fava beans after straining excess liquid from the cans.

*Cover and leave it for another 20 minutes and it's ready to eat!

(Note: Although fuul mudammas may be eaten with any kind of bread, it is best with chapati or Arabic breads.)