Can you eat the shell of fava beans?

The shell of fava beans is edible and actually quite delicious when they are young. We'd only recommend eating the shells of younger and smaller fava beans as the larger beans have that tough skin.

What do fava beans taste like?

Fava beans have a very similar texture and flavor to lima beans (butter beans). Fava beans however are much more flavorful! They have distinct nutty and earthy flavors with subtle hints of sweetness. Some beans also have a slightly bitter taste to them (usually the larger beans) and some even say they can taste the cheese.

Are there any substitutes for fresh fava beans?

Although the taste won't be the same, you can substitute peas or edamame for fresh fava beans.

Can you freeze raw fava beans?

It is best to rinse and blanch them before freezing them. Make sure to pat dry the blanched beans before placing them in an airtight container and freezing them for up to 12 months. You can freeze raw beans, but we wouldn’t recommend it as the texture will completely change and the tough skin will be much harder to remove later!

Fresh Fava Beans Recipe

Fava beans cooked in olive oil garnished with red pepper flakes, fresh dill and lemon wedges in a white bowl and a spoon in it.

Print Recipe

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5 from 4 reviews

Shelled fava beans cooked in the simplest way with olive oil, onion and garlic.

Author: Zerrin & Yusuf
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 1x
Category: Side Dish
Method: Cooking
Cuisine: Turkish
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

2 lbs(1 kilo) fava beans with their pod
3 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium size onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon sugar
1 cup water
¼ cup fresh dill, chopped

Optional Garnish:

Red pepper flakes
Fresh dill
Lemon

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Instructions

Remove the fava beans from their pods.
Make a small slit on each bean.
Fill a saucepan with boiling water. Add in salt and stir.
Soak the beans in this hot salty water for about 10 minutes. Then peel their shells.
Heat olive oil in a pan and cook onions and garlic until translucent.
Add in shelled fava beans and cook for about 5 minutes.
Add in salt, sugar and water. Cook over medium low heat until tender, for about 20 minutes.
Remove from the heat and let it cool a bit. Then add in chopped fresh dill and give it a good stir.
Serve with red pepper flakes, fresh dill and lemon slices.

Notes

You will have about 300g(10.5ounces) beans from 1kilo (2lbs) fava bean pods.
You can add extra olive oil and lemon juice when serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 361
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 304.5mg
Fat: 11.7g
Carbohydrates: 47.3g
Protein: 20g
Cholesterol: 0mg

Find it online: https://www.giverecipe.com/shelled-fresh-fava-beans/