Another farm field trip this weekend introduced me to the beauty of fresh fava beans. I have sampled these buttery beauties a few times before, but only from a can or cooked from dried. Favas, sometimes referred to as broad beans, are now at their peak, and experiencing them fresh from the field is highly recommended.

Fava beans are in fact, members of the pea family. They are incredibly nutritious legumes, especially high in fiber, protein, iron, and folic acid. They are low in fat and sodium. Additionally, fava beans contain levodopa (L-dopa), a chemical the body uses to produce dopamine (the neurotransmitter associated with the brain’s reward and motivation system). They can be eaten hot or cold, but they do not mash well, so making dips from them is not in your best interest. They work best as a filling for pitas and wraps, or in salads and stews.

Fava beans grow in pods, so they need to be shelled before consuming. Personally, I love the task of opening each perfect pod, revealing the pale green legumes inside. I marvel at each sheath as it miraculously holds every bean inside its velvety soft interior. It reminds me of how astounding nature is. Simple. Perfect. Yet I digress…

To prepare the fresh beans follow these instructions:
1. Remove beans from their pod.
2. Boil beans for 3-5 minutes until tender.
3. Remove beans from boiling water and immediately submerge them into an ice water bath to halt cooking.
4. Peel away the outer skin from beans.

Here is a recipe for the fava bean salad I made for dinner tonight. It is very easy to prepare and the simple ingredients highlight, instead of overwhelm, the delicate flavour of the fava beans.
This salad would also be nice mixed with quinoa, brown rice, and some crispy vegetables. A great side dish for any summer meal!
If you cannot find fresh fava beans, use canned or dried.

Simple Fava Bean Salad
Ingredients
1 cup fresh, cooked fava beans
2 Tbsp flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 clove of garlic, minced
Squeeze of lemon juice
1/2 tsp. ground cumin (optional)
Sea salt to taste

Directions
1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Eat.
Simple. Perfect.