15 Fava Bean Recipes You Need to Try This Spring

May 01, 2013
It’s time to get better acquainted with favas! An ancient member of the pea family, they have a nutty taste and buttery texture all their own. Click through for our favorite recipes featuring favas.
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Fava Bean Basics

They do take a bit of work -- fava beans have to be shelled, and unless they’re extremely small, the individual beans will have an outer skin that needs to be removed as well -- but they're deliciously worth it.

In Season: Peak season for fava beans is late March through early May.

What to Look For: Seek out sturdy green pods with a velvety fuzz. Avoid any with slimy brown spots or overly large beans.

How to Store: Refrigerate for up to one week.

How to Prep: For most recipes, you’ll blanch and peel the beans: Remove beans from pods, and cook in a pot of salted boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain, and run under cold water. Remove the skins.

Learn the trick to peeling fava beans in our how-to video.

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Fava Beans with Snap Peas and Mint

Credit: John Kernick
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Celebrate spring with this twist on minted peas -- swap them out for snap peas and fava beans and keep the butter and fresh mint.

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Roast Chicken with Fava Beans

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Roast chicken pan juices mingle with thyme, roasted garlic, and buttery favas to form a beautiful foundation for this comforting skillet dinner.

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Asparagus and Fava Beans with Toasted Almonds

Credit: Christopher Testani
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Two of spring's stars come together in this dish. This recipe makes a modest amount of favas go a long way, for maximum effect: sprinkled over blanched asparagus, topped with a lemony dressing, and finished with toasted almonds. The end result is one standout side.

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Fava Bean Soup

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This simple, velvety soup is accented with the umami tang of Parmesan cheese.

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Grilled Fava Beans

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Never grilled beans before? Your guests will be delighted by this deliciously charred, shell-it-yourself appetizer.

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Spring Vegetable Ragout

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Dijon mustard and Parmesan cheese add a bright zing to this brilliant green vegetarian ragout of asparagus, sugar snap peas, radishes, and herbs. Serve over pasta, polenta, or tortellini to make it a main dish.

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Fava Bean, Mint, and Pecorino Romano Bruschetta

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A hint of spice from crushed red pepper adds a lively edge to mild, creamy fava beans in this mix.

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Fava Beans Over Chicken

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Gussy up plain poached chicken with favas simmered in a mixture of chicken stock, cream, and sauteed leeks.

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Spring Salad with Fava Beans

Credit: Anna Williams
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Favas add intrigue to a simple green salad made with frisee, baby spinach, carrots, goat cheese, and a white-wine vinaigrette.

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Fava Bean and Goat Cheese Dip with Radishes

Credit: Johnny Miller
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Fava beans and radishes, two colorful harbingers of spring, combine in this brightly flavored appetizer.

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Fava Bean Salad with Roasted-Garlic Vinaigrette

Credit: Eugenie Verdel
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Fava beans unite with fresh corn kernels, cucumber, red onion, and feta in a garlicky walnut dressing for a party-worthy side dish.

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Ravioli Stuffed with Fava Beans, Ricotta, and Mint with Brown-Butter Sauce

Credit: Gentl & Hyers
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Pockets of fresh pasta hold a creamy bounty of fresh ricotta, nutty fava beans, and a hint of mint.

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Asparagus, Artichoke, and Fava Bean Salad

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The trifecta of asparagus (green and white!), artichokes, and favas is the star of this spring salad. A bright, citrusy buttermilk dressing ties the flavors together beautifully.

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Pasta with Mint Pesto and Fava

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Turkey and pancetta meatballs add a hearty note to this pasta dish bursting with the fresh flavors of spring.

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Fava Bean, Parmesan, and Almond Salad

Credit: Maria Robledo
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Team earthy favas with toasted almonds, nutty Parmesan, fresh mint, and a simple lemon-and-oil dressing for a sensational crostini topping.

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