Shahan Ful (Eritrean Fava Bean Breakfast)
Local name: ሻሃን ፉል
In short: Fava beans mashed with onion, tomato, green chili and cumin, finished with olive oil and yogurt and eaten with bread for an Eritrean breakfast. It takes about 25 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 265 kcal
Shahan ful is a classic Eritrean breakfast, eaten hot in the morning with fresh bread and sweet tea. Fava beans are warmed and roughly mashed with sautéed onion, tomato, green chili and cumin, then finished with a generous pour of oil and, if you like, a spoonful of yogurt. It is often served in one shared dish, with everyone tearing bread to scoop. It takes about 20 minutes from a can.
Instructions
- Heat the 3 tablespoons of oil in a wide pan over medium heat. Cook the onion for 5 minutes until soft, then add the garlic and chili and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the tomatoes and cumin and cook for 5 minutes until the tomatoes collapse and the mixture looks jammy.
- Add the beans, water and salt. Cook for 5 minutes, mashing about half of the beans with the back of a spoon so the dish is part creamy, part chunky.
- Stir in the lemon juice and taste for salt. Spoon into a shallow dish and drizzle with the remaining olive oil.
- Scatter with parsley and serve hot with bread and a spoonful of yogurt, if using.
Tips
- Dried fava beans give the best flavor. Soak 250 g (1 1/4 cups) overnight, simmer for about 1 1/2 hours until soft, and use about 500 g (3 cups) of the cooked beans.
- For a richer breakfast, top the beans with a chopped hard-boiled egg or a drizzle of spiced butter.
Questions and answers
Is Eritrean ful the same as ful medames?
They are close cousins. Eritrean shahan ful is typically rougher and spicier, with fresh chili, tomato and onion cooked into the beans, and it is eaten with bread.
Can I make ful ahead of time?
Yes. It keeps in the fridge for 4 days and thickens on standing. Reheat with a splash of water and finish with fresh oil and lemon.
What do you eat with ful?
Fresh bread or rolls, sweet tea, and sometimes boiled eggs. In some homes it is served with torn flatbread instead of bread.
How long does it take to make Shahan Ful (Eritrean Fava Bean Breakfast)?
About 25 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Shahan Ful (Eritrean Fava Bean Breakfast)?
About 265 kcal per serving, with 10 g of protein, 24 g of carbohydrates and 13 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 265 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 10 g |
| Carbohydrates | 24 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 8 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 560 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
