Why It Works
- Pairing smooth hummus b’tahini and coarsely textured fava beans provides a pleasant contrast of flavors and textures.
- A punchy dressing of garlic, chile, and lemon juice brings a sharp brightness that balances the heaviness of the beans.
I have a hard time making decisions at restaurants because I usually want to try everything. I dream of being able to combine two dishes into one, which may be why I love qudsiyeh, a meal of hummus b’tahini topped with tender fava beans. It’s the best of both worlds. Served with bread such as pita, taboon, or ka’ak, qudsiyeh is a common breakfast, though it can also be served for lunch or dinner.
Qudsiyeh is named after the city it was supposedly invented in—its name literally means from al-Quds (or Jerusalem). Today, the dish is a staple in many hummus shops across Jerusalem, and its popularity has extended into other parts of the Levant, including Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and even within Palestine itself. Though its most basic form consists of hummus b’tahini and fava beans, variations with different mix-ins—like fresh tomatoes, parsley, or onion—abound.
Ful, or mini fava beans, can be purchased dried or canned. (Make sure they are the mini ones, not the large ones, as they tend to hold their shape better and it’s easier to spoon them over the hummus.) I personally prefer buying them dry in bulk, then soaking and cooking them before portioning and freezing for ease. Though you can easily find both dried and canned ful in any Middle Eastern grocery store, they are also readily available online, though often at a premium.
Qudsiyeh epitomizes the creative use of basic, accessible ingredients to make filling meals that can feed a crowd. This is the kind of meal that many families turn to during food shortages or times of need—such as during the war in Gaza—as they struggle to find fresh produce. Cans of ful or dried fava beans are usually part of food aid convoys, as are dried chickpeas, and mixing them together can really help stretch a meal while also providing some variety.
This dish is quite heavy and satisfying. If you prepare it for a weekend breakfast or brunch, don’t be surprised if it holds you over until dinner—especially if you enjoy it with a side of boiled eggs and bread, as is commonly done on weekends in Palestine.
In this recipe, I’ve tried to remain faithful to the traditional version served in Jerusalem, where a heap of ful is placed in the center of a bowl of hummus and then drizzled with a sauce of garlic, chile, lemon juice, and olive oil. While you should enjoy it by scooping both components together with bread—and you can even mix them before eating—the visual appeal of keeping them separate, as is customary in Jerusalem hummus shops, is my preferred way to serve it.
