Main Course · Middle Eastern · Dinner ·

Middle Eastern Fava Bean Ful Medames with Tahini and Lemon

Name: Middle Eastern Fava Bean Ful Medames with Tahini and Lemon
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 2 cups dried fava beans, soaked overnight; 6 cups water; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 4 garlic cloves, minced; Salt and pepper, to taste; 1/2 cup tahini; 1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed; 1/4 cup water; 1 garlic clove, crushed; Salt, to taste; 1/4 cup parsley, chopped; 1 medium tomato, diced; 1/4 cup radishes, sliced thin; 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Ful Medames is a classic Middle Eastern dish made from fava beans simmered to perfection, enriched with creamy tahini, and brightened with a zesty lemon touch.

4.8(856 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·September 13, 2025

Middle Eastern Fava Bean Ful Medames with Tahini and Lemon — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Easy

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Ful Medames

For the Tahini Sauce

For the Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 716 kcal
Protein: 28.8 g
Carbs: 71.9 g
Fat: 37.9 g
Fiber: 23.2 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 2864 kcal
Protein: 115.2 g
Carbs: 287.4 g
Fat: 151.5 g
Fiber: 92.9 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
2 cups dried fava beans soaked overnight	1300	88	234	6	80
6 cups water	0	0	0	0	0
2 tablespoons olive oil	240	0	0	27	0
1 large onion finely chopped	60	1.5	14	0.2	2.5
4 garlic cloves minced	18	1	4	0	0.2
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
1/2 cup tahini	720	24	24	64	8
1/4 cup lemon juice freshly squeezed	12	0	4	0	0.1
1/4 cup water	0	0	0	0	0
1 garlic clove crushed	4	0.2	1	0	0
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0
1/4 cup parsley chopped	4	0.3	0.6	0.1	0.3
1 medium tomato diced	22	1	5	0.2	1.5
1/4 cup radishes sliced thin	4	0.2	0.8	0	0.3
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil	480	0	0	54	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Fava Beans

1
Rinse and Drain
Rinse the soaked fava beans and drain thoroughly.
2
Combine and Boil
In a large pot, combine fava beans with water and bring to a boil.
3
Simmer the Beans
Simmer for about an hour until the beans are tender.

Making the Tahini Sauce

1
Combine Ingredients
In a mixing bowl, combine tahini, lemon juice, water, and crushed garlic.
Tip: Stir the tahini sauce thoroughly to avoid separation.
2
Whisk and Season
Whisk until smooth and creamy; add salt to taste.
Tip: Roast the garlic before adding for a mellow flavor.
3
Adjust Consistency
Adjust the consistency with more water if too thick.

How to Make Middle Eastern Fava Bean Ful Medames with Tahini and Lemon

Total time: 2 h · Yields 4 servings

1
Simmering the Beans
Stir in olive oil, chopped onion, and minced garlic once beans are tender, then cook for another 15 minutes.
2
Mixing the Sauces
Gradually blend the cooked bean mix with the prepared tahini for a creamy texture.
3
Final Garnishing
Before serving, sprinkle with parsley, diced tomato, and sliced radishes.