How to Clean Fava Beans

Name: How to Clean Fava Beans
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 0
Ingredients: Fava beans (type Baggiana) 2.2 lbs

it es fr de br

105

Calories per serving

Gluten Free
Lactose Free
Vegetarian
Vegan

Energy Kcal 105
Carbohydrates g 10.9
of which sugars g 1
Protein g 14
Fats g 0.5
of which saturated fat g 0.08
Fiber g 13.3
Sodium mg 47

Difficulty: Very easy
Prep time: 20 min
Makes: pieces
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

Fava beans, or "fave" as they call them in Italy, are super versatile. You might not know it, but they come in types like Baggiana, Reina Mora, Aguadulce Supersimonia, and Superaguadulce. Really good stuff. They're in season from March to July—prime time for these little guys. When picking fave, find pods that are firm and intact. Avoid ones with soft spots.

Pulire le fave is all about getting them ready to eat. First, you pop the beans out of their pods, or sgranare le fave, and sometimes you remove the tender outer skin. This gives a smooth texture. In lots of Italian homes, especially down south, fave fresche are enjoyed raw. Really, they make a nice snack or get tossed into salads for a crisp, earthy touch.

Across Italy, people do pulizia delle fave in different ways. Some just sgranare le fave and sauté them quickly in a pan. Pretty much, others boil them or turn them into a creamy spread. The heart of come pulire le fave depends on your plan. Leave the skin on if you like them rustic and firm—great for hearty dishes. Take it off for a soft ingredient perfect for soups or purees.

And look, they pair beautifully with dishes like Tuscan soups or Puglian purees. Knowing the right way to clean and store them—like in a paper bag in the fridge—keeps them fresh. Plus, you’ll always have something for those classic ricette con le fave. Whether going for a traditional dish or just adding them to a salad, focusing on pulizia delle fave makes each bite moist and flavorful. I gotta say, this little bit of care really makes all the difference. Transform your meals into something really really good!

INGREDIENTS: Fava beans 2.2 lbs (1 kg) - (type Baggiana)

How to Clean Fava Beans

In stores, you can also find dry fava beans, in addition to fresh ones. There are two types: dry fava beans with skin or peeled dry fava beans, meaning without the outer skin 1. The difference between the two is the soaking time required before cooking: 16-18 hours for dry fava beans with skin, 8-10 hours for peeled ones. Cleaning fresh fava beans 2 is a very simple but also very lengthy process because the beans must be shelled and cleaned one by one. To shell the fava beans, detach one of the ends of the pod 3.

Split the pod in half 4, spreading the two ends and opening it completely, then extract the seeds by running your thumb along the inside of the pod 5 and collect the seeds in a bowl 6.

Remove the growth covering the fava bean seed by applying light pressure with your fingers 7. Only after removing the growth can you determine if the fava beans are fresh. In fact, if under the growth the color is light, it means the fava bean is freshly picked. However, if the color is black, it indicates that the fava beans were harvested a few days ago, and thus it is necessary to remove the thin layer of skin that surrounds the seeds. With your fingers, apply light pressure on the skin or make a small cut with a knife and peel off the outer layer of the fava bean 8. At this point, your fava beans are ready 9 to be eaten raw or cooked.

Storage

Fresh fava beans are very delicate and can be stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of 2-3 days covered with plastic wrap 1; alternatively, you can blanch them for about 4-5 minutes, let them cool, place them in tightly sealed bags 2, and freeze them. Dry fava beans, on the other hand, can be stored for 4 to 6 months in tightly sealed containers 3 and kept in a cool, dry place (not in the refrigerator).

Advice

If you are lucky enough to find fresh fava beans, picked just one or two days ago, you can eat them raw without needing to remove the outer skin because they will be very tender. However, if they are not fresh or are very large, it is necessary to remove the outer skin covering the seed to make them more tender and less bitter.

Trivia

Fava beans provide our body with a good amount of potassium, magnesium, iron, selenium, copper, and zinc; they are also rich in proteins, vitamins, fibers, and minerals; they are the legumes with the least calories. In some individuals with a deficiency of a specific enzyme (G6PD), fava beans can cause a disease called favism, which causes severe anemic crises.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.

How to Clean Fava Beans

PRESENTATION

How to Clean Fava Beans

Storage

Advice

Trivia

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