Fool

So last night we had a Middle Eastern meal. I made hummus and a simple fattoush salad, this is a simple salad with pita chips in it. These I made by brushing pita with EVOO with a little zahtar, and toasting.

We also had Fool Madammas. Here is how I prepared it:

half large or one small onion, diced
2-3 cloves garlic
olive oil
cumin
fava beans (I used canned and drained, but kept the reserved liquid)
lemon
parsley
tomato, diced
salt and pepper

Saute the garlic and onion in oil on medium heat until soft
Add the cumin and season with salt and pepper
Add the drained beans, adding the liquid to keep the beans from drying out
Mash some of the beans with a potato masher (a fork works too)
Squeeze in the lemon
Season with salt and pepper to taste
Top with fresh parsley and tomato

I first had this at my friend Danny's house, his mom is Egyptian, and this being the national dish of Egypt (I wonder what the national dish of the USA is?) she grew up eating it. She served it with hard boiled eggs, pita and chopped lettuce. You mash the beans with the egg, add a little lemon to taste and fill the pita with this mixture and the lettuce. YUM!! Thanks Elsie.