“My maternal grandfather was a great man—a dedicated husband, father, and physician—who held fast to his Egyptian roots, starting with breakfast. Every morning of his adult life started with ful mudam- mas. These cooked fava beans are standard fuel for many Egyptians, often paired simply with bread. When I thought about tweaking this recipe to use a different bean and asked my mom for her opinion, her response was clear and emphatic. “Nooo!” she bellowed. “You can never change the fava bean in this recipe. The Egyptian people will never forgive you!” When your mother suggests that 100 million people will hate you, you shut up and do as you’re told.” – Eat, Habibi, Eat! by Shahir Masoud
To make the beans, in a saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt, cooking to soften, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cumin and the beans, along with the rest of the olive oil. Cook, breaking up the beans with a wooden spoon, for another 2 to 3 minutes.
Transfer to a bowl, then mix in the tahini, lemon juice, and ½ cup of water. Season with the remaining teaspoon of salt.
To make the flatbreads, preheat the oven to 425°F. Brush each flatbread with some olive oil, then spread some of the ful mixtures on each piece. Place directly on a baking sheet and bake for 7 to 9 minutes until the bread browns nicely.
Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, heat the butter over medium-low heat and crack in the eggs. Fry until the whites set and the yolks are still runny. Season with a pinch of salt.
Remove the flatbreads from the oven and top with the sliced red onion. Place the eggs on top, then finish with a pinch of chilli flakes and the parsley and cilantro.