Fava Bean Purée

I can’t say I’ve ever been a ‘real’ fan of fava beans…it stems from my childhood intense dislike for lima beans.  Whenever mom would place mixed veggies on my plate I seemed to always get all of the lima beans – how could that be I used to ask myself when I had three other siblings to share this nasty bean with?  I am shuddering even now as I recall how much I loathed them – talk about a food memory.  It was from there on in that any type of bean that was as big as a lima I would refuse to eat – plain and simple. 

You can teach an old dog new tricks and I am happy to say that the past does not equal the future!   I’ve come away from my own large bean phobia and embrace them all!  Beans of any kind play a role in helping the body stay healthy so why wouldn’t I give it another try?  According to Fruits and Veggies Matter, fava beans are a nutrient-dense food, meaning they provide lots of nutrients essential for proper body function without being rich in calories. In addition to being an excellent source of nutrients that support cardiovascular health, fava beans are high in dietary fiber which can help improve your blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Makes 1 1/2 cups
adapted from Fine Cooking

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil; more for drizzling
2 cloves (large) garlic, chopped
1 to 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary or thyme
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 pounds fava beans, shelled to yield 2 cups
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; more to taste
Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)

Place a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1/4 cup of the oil, garlic, rosemary or thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper and cook until you begin to hear a sizzling sound and the aromatics are fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the fava beans. Stir until the beans are well coated with the oil and aromatics and then add 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the water has nearly evaporated and the fava beans are tender, about 12 minutes. Add more water if the pan looks dry before the favas are done. Remove from the heat.

Transfer the fava mixture to a food processor. Add the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and the lemon juice and  purée until smooth. Season to taste with more salt and lemon juice. Just before serving, drizzle with a little olive oil and garnish with finely grated Parmesan cheese.

The Culinary Chase’s Note:  When my husband told me this was good, that’s all I needed to hear! Spread this purée on crackers, as a dip for veggies or in a pasta dish.   Choose small to medium fava beans as they are more tender and sweeter than the large beans.  This will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.   Cheers!

2 Comments

  1. rental mobil jakarta on June 7, 2012 at 08:16

    Very nice, thanks for sharing.



  2. Minnie(@thelady8home) on June 9, 2012 at 00:09

    Thanks for the recipe. This puree could actually go with many things. Thats the best part. Looks tasty too.