Fava Beans

Inventory, 28 lbs : 14.93
This item was last sold on : 05/23/13

Seasons/Availability

Fava beans are available year round with a peak season in spring.

Current Facts

Fava beans, botanical name Vicia faba, are also know as broad beans, field beans and Windsor beans. They are a hardy perennial grown as an annual and often used during crop rotation and specifically utilized as ground cover to preserve the soil and reduce weed growth. The crops are then turned into the soil to invigorate the soil with nitrogen and organic nutrients. In fact, most fava plants are grown as a cover crop far more often than a food crop as it requires a relatively large area to produce modest harvests.

Description/Taste

Fava bean pods are thick with a cottony interior encapsulating 2 to 7 large lemon lime-colored beans. While the fava pods are considered inedible, the beans are tender, with a sweet, mild grassy flavor reflective of spring. The beans are similar in shape to a lima bean, plump and curvaceous. The bean's skin is thick and their texture can range from starchy to creamy depending on how young they are and how they are prepared. The young gray-green leaves, shoots, tendrils and white and black flowers of the fava plant are all edible with lean bright grassy flavors.

Applications

Fresh Fava beans are often prepared with other spring vegetables, such as peas, asparagus and morel mushrooms. Their mild flavor and unique texture adds character to salads and soups. Fresh fava beans can be pureed into spreads and served as appetizers. Pair with fresh herbs, sheep's milk cheeses, citrus, pastas, cream or wine-based sauces, young greens such as spinach and pea tendrils, bacon, lamb and seafood. Late season fava beans will become more filled out and starchier requiring a second peeling of the outer bean and cooking the beans, either by blanching or braising. Immature beans can be canned or frozen. Dried fava beans are common and are treated like most dried beans, soaked and cooked low and slow.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

In Crete fresh Fava beans are shelled and eaten as companion to tsikoudia, a traditional Cretian alcoholic drink.

Geography/History

Fava beans are one of the oldest crops known, with archeological remains found in Israel recording their cultivated origins as early as the Neolithic period (6800-6500 BC). Their cultivation spread along the Mediterranean into southwestern Asia and Africa, along with companion pulses such as chickpeas and lentils. Fava beans are now cultivated in over 50 countries, preferring cool seasons and temperate regions similar to that in which they were first cultivated. There is no known wild ancestor to the fava bean.

Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.

Nine - Ten	San Diego CA	858-964-5400
Beaumont's	San Diego CA	858-459-0474
Firefly Beach	San Diego CA	619-222-6440
The Rose Wine Pub on 30th	San Diego CA	619-280-1815
Roy's La Jolla	San Diego CA	858-455-1616
Barbarella	San Diego CA	858-454-7373
The Country Club Of Rancho Bernardo	San Diego CA	858-451-9100
Giuseppe Restaurants & Fine Catering	San Diego CA	760-822-3593 sal
Four Seasons Residence Club	Carlsbad CA	760 603 3700
Waters Catering	San Diego CA	619-276-8803 ex 4
Pamplemousse Grill	Solana Beach CA	858-792-9090
Gabardine	San Diego CA	619-398-9810
Crab Catcher La Jolla	San Diego CA	858-454-9587
Uptown Tavern	San Diego CA	619-203-8584
True Food-Fashion Valley	San Diego CA	619-810-2929
In House Processing
Sorority Cuisine - Delta Gamma	San Diego CA	916 847 9896
The Crossings	Carlsbad CA	760-444-1800
Hotel La Jolla & CUSP Dining & Drinks	La Jolla CA	858-459-0261
Inn at Rancho Santa Fe	Rancho Santa Fe CA	800 843 4661

Show the other 54...

Bernard'O Restaurant	San Diego CA	858-487-7171
100 wines	San Diego CA	619-491-0100
Ritual Tavern	San Diego CA	619-283-1618
Miho Gastrotruck	San Diego CA	619-867-4295
Table 926	San Diego CA	858-539-0926
Tom Hams Light House	San Diego CA	619-291-9110
Wine Vault & Bistro	San Diego CA	619-295-3939
Lauberge Del Mar	Del Mar CA	858-259-1515
Georges at the Cove	San Diego CA	858-454-4244
Brooklyn Girl	San Diego CA	619-296-4600
La Villa	San Diego CA	619 255 5221
Tender Greens-Liberty Station	San Diego CA	619-226-6254
Prepkitchen Little Italy	San Diego CA	619-247-0394
Prepkitchen Del Mar	Del Mar CA	858-792-7737
Inn at the Park	San Diego CA	619-296-0057
Solace & the Moonlight Lounge	Encinitas CA	760-753-2433
Tender Greens-UTC	San Diego CA	858-455-9395
Piatti	San Diego CA	858-454-1589
Wynola Flats Produce	Julian CA	760-765-2979
Burlap	San Diego CA	858 369 5700
Counterpoint	San Diego CA	(619) 564-6722
Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-756-1582
Rancho Valencia	Del Mar CA	858-756-1123
Roy's San Diego	San Diego CA	619-239-7697
Herringbone	La Jolla CA	858-459-0221
Whisknladle	San Diego CA	858-551-7575
Red Door Restaurant & Wine Bar	San Diego CA	619-295-6000
Hotel Del Coronado Banquets	Coronado CA	619-435-6611
Fishery	San Diego CA	858-272-9985
Cucina Urbana	San Diego CA	619-239-2222
Lodge at Torrey Pines Grill	San Diego CA	858-453-4420
Heat Bar & Kitchen	San Diego CA	619-546-4328
Cafe Chloe	San Diego CA	619-232-3242
Cowboy Star	San Diego CA	619-450-5880
Martinis above Fourth	San Diego CA	619-400-4500
West Steak and Seafood	Carlsbad CA	760-930-9100
The Craftsman New American Tavern	Encinitas CA	760-415-2380
Toronado San Diego	San Diego CA	619-282-0456
La Jolla Country Club	San Diego CA	858-454-9601
Pacifica Del Mar	Del Mar CA	858-792-0505
Harney Sushi Oceanside	Oceanside CA	760-967-1820
Cal A Vie	Vista CA	760-945-2055
The Farm House Cafe	San Diego CA	619-269-9662
Qero	Encinitas CA	760-753-9050
Bo Beau Kitchen & Bar	San Diego CA	619-224-2884
The Lion Share	San Diego CA	619-564-6924
Toast Enoteca Cucina	San Diego CA	619-269-4342
J six	San Diego CA	619-531-8744
La Valencia	San Diego CA	858-551-3750
Trattoria I Trulli	Encinitas CA	760-943-6800
Leroy's Kitchen & Lounge	Coronado CA	619-522-6890
Bleu Boheme	San Diego CA	619-255-4167
Paradise Point Resort Baleen	San Diego CA	858-490-6363
Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-759-6063

Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Fava Beans. One is easiest, three is harder.

The Kitchn		Potato Salad with Fava Beans and Fennel
Feeding Maybelle		Fava bean, Kale, Spinach and Dandelion Green Cavatelli
The Kitchn		Fava Bean and Radish Bruschetta
La Tartine Gourmande		Tarragon Flavored Fava Bean and Green Pea Tartine
Local Lemons		Crostini with Fava Beans, Roasted Garlic Creme Fraiche and Mushroom Oil
No Recipes		Nettle Pasta with Fava Beans
A Chicken in Every Granny Cart		Spring Chicken Stew With Couscous
Apple Pie, Patis, & Pate		Lamb with Fava Beans and Green Almonds
Brooklyn Farmhouse		Fava and Pecorino Crostini with Mint and Pea Shoots
Poor Girl Eats Well		Shrimp, Fava Beans & Asparagus with Meyer Lemon Dressing

Show the other 21...

Sunday Nite Dinner		Shrimp, Fava Bean and Zucchini Pasta
A Foodie Froggy		Tagliolini with Fava beans and Green Peas Cream
Bleeding Espresso		Calabrian Sausage & Fava Beans
WELL FED		Fava Bean Puree with Oil-Cured Olives, French Feta & Crostini
Food Musings		Fava Bean Salad
Wrightfood		English pea, Fava Bean & Mint Soup
Food 52		Asparagus, Fava Bean & Pea Shoot Salad
Simply Recipes		Fava Bean Dip with Goat Cheese
Wrightfood		Salt cod, Fava Bean and English Pea Salad (piment d’ espelette)
Hunter Angler Gardener Cook		Stewed Artichokes with Fresh Fava Beans
The Food Section		Grilled Fava Beans
Herbivoracious		Warm Fava Bean (Ful) Salad with Tamarind Dressing
What Did You Eat?		Braised Fava Beans with Prosciutto
食尚小米的BLOG		谁是老北京菜的头牌—炒麻豆腐
Seasonal Chef		Fettuccine with Fresh Fava Sauce
Green String Farm		Braised Fava Beans and Green Garlic
No Recipes		Oyster and Fava Bean Stew
Smitten Kitchen		Pasta with Favas, Tomatoes and Sausage
Simply Recipes		Fava Bean Dip with Goat Cheese and Garlic
Kirsten's Recipes		Pan-Seared Halibut with Fava Bean Puree
Hunter Angler Gardener Cook		Ancient Roman Fava Bean Dip

Recently Spotted
People have spotted Fava Beans using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.

Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.

Fresh Mart Near Shanghai, Shanghai, China About 8 days ago Spotter's comments : Fava beens are available Alameda Natural Grocery Near Alameda, California, United States About 8 days ago San Diego Public Market Near San Diego, California, United States About 12 days ago Spotter's comments : Maciel Family Farms, Bonsall, CA No190 North Chongqing Road Near Shanghai, Shanghai, China About 36 days ago Spotter's comments : Fave beans are available . Santa Monica Farmers Market Near Santa Monica, California, United States About 44 days ago Spotter's comments : Several farms are selling fava beans today. Kroger branch Hill Guinea Pike Loveland Ohio Near Oregonia, Ohio, United States About 53 days ago ocean beach farmers market Near Coronado, California, United States About 72 days ago Spotter's comments : Carlsbad farm valdivia farm, sweet and succulent.