Fava Beans

Fava beans ready to be harvested

If normal beans took steroids they would turn into fava beans.  When cooked right these gigantic legumes have a light, earthy and refreshing flavor.  When cooked wrong they can be hard, dry and as tasteless as a rock.  Fortunately, cooking favas so they turn out delicious is easy.

Harvest favas when they're 4 to 6 inches long, still mostly green, and the beans inside are developed.  Give them a pinch to find out.  If you wait too long and they turn from green to brown, save those favas for seeds for next year.

Once the favas are harvested, turn the oven broiler on.  Space the favas out on a cookie sheet.  Drizzle olive oil on top, followed by a healthy sprinkling of salt and a little bit of pepper.

Place the cookie sheet under the broiler, after 2 minutes, flip the favas and after 2 more minutes they should be done.

Be sure to keep an eye on them once placed under the broiler, they cook fast and if you forget about them you will set off your fire alarm.  The end product should be golden brown, the crispier the better.

Enjoy the favas by just digging in, eat the skin and all - don't peel them.

If you don't have a broiler or if you keep running into trouble with setting off fire alarms you can just bake them or you can always grill them.  Use the same recipe and same techniques.  They'll be tasty regardless of the method used.

Most of the time easier is better and tastier.

Enjoy!

Fava beans being grilled