Fava Beans

By:Eng/ Samira Abdelkader

Greek traveler Diodorus Siculus, during his visit to Egypt before the Common Era, famously stated that fava beans are the authentic food of the Egyptians. For thousands of years, beans remained the staple diet for Egyptians, especially during economic crises when meat wasn't affordable for everyone. Legumes became the primary food source.

Egyptians became incredibly creative in how they cooked and served them. The Coptic researcher Charles Akl noted over a hundred different ways to slow cook  fava beans, which were especially popular during fasting periods. Even during the Mamluk era, cookbooks featured various recipes for cooking legumes with meat, chicken, and eggs.

There is also a notable account from the French traveler Charles Didier. He was among the Europeans who claimed to have converted to Islam to study holy sites in Mecca and Medina. While in Suez with the British explorer Richard Burton, preparing to head to the Arabian Peninsula, Didier observed that an Egyptian could survive an entire day on just a handful of fava beans.

 

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