Active 10 mins Total 10 mins Serves 3 to 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin seeds, freshly toasted
  • 2 teaspoons harissa (or other chili flakes/power)
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans fava beans
  • 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
  • 1 tablespoon tahini
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons lemon juice from 2 lemons, or more to taste

Directions

  1. Put garlic cloves, cumin seeds, harissa, and a pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle and crush until seeds are cracked and garlic is in small, flimsy chunks. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, mince garlic very fine.

  2. Empty one can of fava beans (with liquid) into a medium saucepan; drain second can and add additional beans, garlic paste, olive oil, and tahini. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until liquid retains some brothiness but turns thick and sauce-like, about 5 minutes.

  3. Add lemon juice and salt to taste. If desired, mash one third of beans with a potato masher for a thicker stew, or mash all beans for a rich dip. Serve with additional olive oil at the table.