Ful Medames with homemade pita bread

👨‍🍳 Method

For the homemade pita bread ✓ Homemade · or skip – back to store-bought

1. 1
   Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl.

   Bowl
2. 2
   Add the lukewarm water and olive oil and Knead about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth, pliable and doesn't stick to your hands.

   BowlStand mixer

   💡For yeast dough, use the windowpane test: a small piece stretches into a thin, translucent sheet without tearing, and that's the sign the kneading is done. Add flour only by the tablespoon, and only if the dough is still sticky after a few minutes: too much flour makes a tough dough.
3. 3
   Cover and Let rise about an hour in a warm place, until the dough doubles in size.

   Plastic wraporKitchen towel

   💡Let rise in a warm, draft-free spot. The dough is ready when it has doubled, and a gentle finger press leaves a dent that fills back slowly; if it springs right back, wait longer.
4. 4
   Preheat the oven to 250°C (480°F), with an upside-down baking sheet inside, for at least half an hour.

   Oven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
5. 5
   Divide the dough into 10 balls and roll each ball into a circle about ½ cm thick.

   Rolling pin

   💡Don't roll too thin: in a round half a centimeter thick or more, the steam in the dough puffs it into a pocket; a round that's too thin dries into a cracker.

   💡Dough that springs back needs rest: cover the balls for 10 minutes and the gluten relaxes.
6. 6
   Cover the rounds with a towel and let rest 15 minutes.

   Kitchen towel
7. 7
   Bake on the hot baking sheet, 3–4 pitas at a time, 3–5 minutes, until the pitas puff into a pocket and take on a little color.

   OvenBaking sheet

   💡Full heat and a scorching-hot baking sheet are what make the pocket: in an oven that isn't hot enough, the pita bakes flat.

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
8. 8
   Wrap immediately in a towel, so the pitas stay soft.

   Kitchen towel

For the Boiled Egg

1. 9
   Bring a pot of water to a boil, deep enough to cover the egg by about 2 cm.

   StovePot
2. 10
   Gently lower the egg into it with a spoon.
3. 11
   Turn down the heat slightly and simmer 10–11 minutes.

   Stove

   💡A gentle simmer, not a boil: a hard boil dries the food out and clouds it, a slow simmer cooks it evenly.
4. 12
   Transfer immediately to a bowl of ice water for 5–10 minutes, and peel from the wide end.

   Ice bath

   💡Cold water right after cooking stops the cooking and separates the membrane from the white: peeling is easy, and the yolk doesn't turn gray.

To assemble

1. 13
   Drain the ful, transfer to a pot with the water, add the garlic, cumin and salt and cook for 10 minutes.

   ColanderStovePot
2. 14
   Mash some of the fava beans with a fork, for a semi-smooth texture.
3. 15
   Add the lemon juice and toss.
4. 16
   Transfer onto a plate and top with the tahini, olive oil and parsley.
5. 17
   Serve with the hard-boiled egg and pita.