Kacang Pool or Kacang Phool is a rather popular food in Johor Bahru, and everyone seems to be talking about Kacang Pool Pak Haji at Larkin. As this dish is adapted from the Middle eastern way of eating fava bean, I think the name Kacang Pool most likely got its name from the Egyptian word foul (or pronounced “ful”) for fava bean. Foul Medames is considered to be Egyptian’s national breakfast.
In Malaysia, you might have been munching on fava beans (or broad bean) for years without even knowing it. At the kacang putih stall, look out for these salty crunchy beans is with its skin split open. I was fortunate to have a friend bring back some fresh fava beans from middle east as now (spring) is the harvesting season. Preparing favas involves first removing the beans from their pods, then parboiling the beans to loosen their exterior coating, and removing that before cooking.
As fava beans are seasonal produce, they are enjoyed all year round in dried form. The taste of the fresh fava have a slight bittertaste as compared to the creamy texture of the dried ones. This Kacang Pool dish uses dried beans which cannot be found here in KL, therefore canned Foul Medammas is used for this recipe.
To take note: Fava beans can be harmful to some people have enzyme deficiencies of the blood and develop anemia.
There’s many variations of this Johorian dish, so my version is an adaptation of Kitchen Snippets’ & Wendyinkk’s recipe. I’m submiting this to Malaysian Food Fest – Johor Month hosted by Annie of Annielicious Food
- 1 can (400 g) Foul Medammas / cooked dried Fava beans / kacang parang
- 150 gm Minced Beef
- 1/4 cup Tamarind juice (10 gm tamarind + 1/4 cup water )
- 2 tablespoon Meat Curry Powder
- 1 teaspoon Ground Fennel Seed (Serbuk Jintan Manis)
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin (Serbuk Jintan Putih)
- Freshly Ground Black pepper
- 1/2 cup Water
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- Blended / pounded to a paste:
- 5g Dried Chili – soaked (can be replaced with 1 tablespoon tomato sauce for less spicy dish)
- 40g Shallots
- 5g Garlic
- 5g Ginger
- Accompaniment:
- Fried Eggs
- Onion – diced
- Tomato – diced
- Fresh Green Chili – diced
- Coriander Leaves – chopped
- Lime – halved
- Add oil into a hot wok and stir fry the blended paste until fragrant. Add in curry powder, cumin powder and fennel powder. Stir until well mixed and very fragrant.
- Put in the minced meat and stir until the meat is cooked. Add in the water and let boil. Once the mixture has boiled, stir in the tamarind juice and the beans (with the liquid). Add salt and ground black pepper to taste.
- Using the back of a wooden spoon, mash up some beans and cook until the mixture has thickened.
- Serve the dish in a deep plate and top up with a sunny side egg, diced tomato, onion, chilies and coriander. Squeeze some lime / lemon juice. Accompany with bread.
Comments
13 responses to “Kacang Phool / Kacang Pool (Spiced Fava Beans)”
while i’m searching for broad beans ( wanted to know where to purchase in malaysia ) , i came across your blog. As I have a persian bf, and I know how to cook some of the persian dishes, I know about fava beans ( in farsi , it is called beghali ). The persians love beghali polow ( fava beans rice ) with dill, It is very delicious.
the recipe :
https://turmericsaffron.blogspot.my/2009/06/shevid-baghali-polow-dill-lima-beans.html
Hi Jenn, thanks for sharing the beghali polow recipe, it looks and sounds very delicious
This recipe has made it to my cookbook-notebook! It has the exact taste that I was looking for … the perfect “kacang pool”! Thanx so much!!
[…] some recipes off the internet, narrowing down on my potential starting point. The recipe from Just as Delish caught my eye. It has a good blend of spices which can elevate the lack of taste of the Kacang […]
Wow! great dish for my breakfast.. hehehe !!
[…] in G+ and a few month’s back one of the member put up a recipe for kacang phul on her blog Just as Delish. I had a look and I had a try and I modified it to my taste… the one I remember from Aram […]
Gorgeous dish! I was eying the fava beans at the grocery store yesterday, but didn’t buy any. Now, I have the perfect excuse to go back 🙂
Thanks EA. Were the fava beans at the store fresh or dried ones?
Fava beans aren’t available here but they do look good in this recipe.
Hi Wizzy, I think chickpeas would be a great substitute for fava beans
Shannon, it looks delicious! I should cook some and have it for breakfast. It makes for a very flavoursome and fulfilling meal.
Thanks Phong Hong, it’s actually a very filling meal for breakfast, more suitable for brunch / lunch.