Fresh fava beans in oil, an unusual and tasty recipe, we carefully follow the biological rhythms of nature using seasonal vegetables if we have them in abundance. Indeed, this is the time for peas, asparagus, spring onions, snow peas, spinach, and of course fava beans, delicious to consume raw. This legume, fava beans, grows on annual plants and from the flowers develop large pods that contain sweet and flat seeds. They are found in the market exactly at this time, April and May, only two months a year. You should take advantage of it because they are low in calories unlike the dried ones which are high in calories. They are really good for you, containing minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and potassium, proteins and vitamins like A and C and of course lots of fiber, these are good reasons to consume them. This recipe for fresh fava beans in oil has deep and distant roots, my mother used to prepare them in the spring to then consume them as a side dish or to accompany simple dishes in the following months, we really had them in abundance.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 2 Hours
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 6
- Cooking methods: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring
- Energy 327.00 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 3.32 (g) of which sugars 1.33 (g)
- Proteins 2.72 (g)
- Fat 33.03 (g) of which saturated 4.54 (g)of which unsaturated 20.80 (g)
- Fibers 2.75 (g)
- Sodium 465.58 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 100 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients to prepare fresh fava beans in oil
- 10.5 oz fava beans (fresh)
- 1 1/4 cups white wine vinegar
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 chili peppers
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp black pepper (whole and ground)
- 2 sprigs mint
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
Necessary tools to prepare fresh fava beans in oil
- 2 Jars
- Saucepan
- Colander
- 2 Tea towels
- Scissors
- Bowl
- Spoon
Steps to prepare fresh fava beans in oil
Open the pod along its middle and with your thumb inside detach the seeds, wash them and without removing the skin around, boil them for 7 minutes in water with salt and vinegar. After draining them, let them dry well on a clean tea towel, if necessary, pat them dry.
Meanwhile, prepare the seasonings, cut the chili into thin pieces as well as the garlic. I prepared two separate jars, to one I will add, besides all the ingredients, only the mint, and to the other only the oregano. Both are delicious and since I couldn’t decide, I preferred to make two different ones.
Usually for preparations in oil, I prefer extra virgin olive oil but with fresh fava beans I also added vegetable oil.
After arranging the fava beans in the jars with the seasonings, I added the two types of oil, obviously, I sterilized the jars by boiling them for 30 minutes in water and then letting them cool in the same.
The day after preparation I checked if more oil was needed and added a bit, make sure the fava beans are always covered with oil.
