Sautéed Fava Beans
on Apr 17, 2023, Updated Mar 21, 2024
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You can add fresh herbs to the recipe if you like, but a bit of kosher salt and pepper is all that you really need to make this perfect spring side dish with fava beans.
Sautéed fresh fava beans are one of the most awaited veggies of spring in the parts of the world where they are most popular, including Europe, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Latin America, and some parts of the U.S. They are known in the U.S. as broad beans, and they are buttery and sweet and delightful when simply sautéed with a bit of olive oil and garlic.
You can add fresh herbs to the recipe if you like, but a bit of kosher salt and pepper is all that you really need to make this perfect spring side dish. It’s perfect alongside nearly anything you would make for dinner. Try sautéed fava beans with fried shrimp, rice, and collard greens, or serve them with a grilled steak, kebabs, or even lobster tail.
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In the spring we shouldn’t miss the chance to make a simple side of sauteed shelled fresh fava beans. A seasonal treat for sure.
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Preparing Fava Beans
Preparing fava beans and getting them ready for a quick sauté takes a bit of work. Try grabbing a kid or a friend and having them help you get the beans shelled and peeled, and then you can have them ready to eat within minutes! If you can find young fava beans, then you don’t have to worry about peeling them, and shelling them is pretty quick work.
How to Sauté Fava Beans
- Sauté: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, until the garlic starts to turn golden and softens and smells fragrant. Add the shelled fava beans and sauté for about 3 to 5 minutes, until they are as tender as you like them.
- Season and serve: Season with salt and pepper, and add the mint, if using. Serve hot or warm with a final drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt.
What to Serve With Sautéed Fava Beans
More Bean Recipes
- Chickpea and Fava Bean Salad
- Honey Mustard Green Beans
- Green Bean Salad with Clementine Oranges and Feta
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Sautéed Fava Beans
Ingredients
- 4 pounds unshelled fava beans (in the pod)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus more for drizzling)
- 3 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper (to taste)
- 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh mint (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Drop the fava bean pods into the boiling water. Boil for 30 seconds. Drain the pods. Submerge the pods in the ice bath. Let them sit for a few minutes until chilled.
- Snap one end of the shell and pull the string down the seam of the pod to open the pod. There will be about 4 or 5 beans inside. Remove the beans. If the fava beans are mature, they will have a white-ish shell around the bean; peel those shells off. You should have about 2 1/2 to 3 cups of fava beans.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, until the garlic starts to turn golden and soften and smell fragrant. Add the fava beans and sauté for about 3 to 5 minutes, until they are as tender as you like them. Season with salt and pepper, and add the mint, if using. Serve hot or warm with a final drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt
