what to do with fava beans?

[purplefrog]

I got some fava beans, still in their pods, in my weekly produce bin. I know SF warns against eating them, but we'd like to try them anyway. How should I prepare them? Would I remove them from the pods, soak them, and then steam them?

Thanks!

[nourishing]

I have no idea, though am interested in learning. Fava beans contain dopamine, which isn't an easy thing to find in food.

[kittyhead]

i got fava beans in my produce box once. i shelled them, and soaked them overnight. if they are more maturea they have a "skin" around the beans that has to be removed, too. and then i sauteed up some chopped bacon and a dab of butter and some shallots, and added the beans and a little broth and some fresh thyme and cooked them until they were soft and the broth was reduced down... i was trying to recreate something i had in an italian restaraunt once and it wasnt quite that dish but they were delicious.

[quietserena]

I only have experience with the canned fava beans made into a salad, usually by people from the middle east. It's pretty much cold fava beans, chopped parsley and tomato and lemon juice and olive oil as a dressing. When I've made it, I put in cumin and salt too.

Why are fava beans bad?

[purplefrog]

Originally Posted by kittyhead

i got fava beans in my produce box once. i shelled them, and soaked them overnight. if they are more maturea they have a "skin" around the beans that has to be removed, too. and then i sauteed up some chopped bacon and a dab of butter and some shallots, and added the beans and a little broth and some fresh thyme and cooked them until they were soft and the broth was reduced down... i was trying to recreate something i had in an italian restaraunt once and it wasnt quite that dish but they were delicious.

Mmm, that sounds good. How long did you have to cook them before they were soft?

[purplefrog]

Originally Posted by quietserena

Why are fava beans bad?

It says in NT that they contain a substance which can cause a type of life-threatening anemia in people with an inherited susceptibility.

[kittyhead]

Originally Posted by purplefrog

Mmm, that sounds good. How long did you have to cook them before they were soft?

hmmmm, maybe a half hour or so?

[melissa17s]

I am not sure about NT opposition to Fava beans, but I remember reading that it can cause fetal destress in pregnant women that eat them. Also, I think it can be bad for nursing mothers...

[tamagotchi]

Originally Posted by purplefrog

It says in NT that they contain a substance which can cause a type of life-threatening anemia in people with an inherited susceptibility.

This is favism, also known as G6PD enzyme deficiency. I know a little boy who has it. He got very sick before they figured out what it was.
http://www.g6pd.org/favism/english/index.mv
If you don't have favism, fava beans are fine though.

[Leilalu]

ok, I am conflicted. is this a common, or very rare thing?
We usually get tons fo fava beans from CSA during summer and I want to eat them! We are trying to conceive, so I will be pregnant then if I am not already, most likely.

DD always had so much fun de-podding and shelling them for me.
Also, do you have to soak them? We normally just sauteed them, or pureed over pasta.

[tamagotchi]

Originally Posted by Leilalu

ok, I am conflicted. is this a common, or very rare thing?

It depends on your family background I think. It is genetic and more common in some populations than others. Quoting from the above link, "The deficit is most prevalent in Africa (affecting up to 20% of the population), but is common also around the Mediterranean (4% - 30%) and southeast Asia." The little boy I know is Korean.

[artemis33]

Well, I had no idea about the potential health concerns, but....

I get this salad once in a while from a local deli that is fava beans, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, green onions, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Oh and a little purple onion I think?? Been a while since I got it, but it is SO good! Now I neeeeeeed some

One weird thing though - I grew my own favas one year in hopes of making this at home, but the ones I grew were HUGE compared to the ones in the salad I buy. Not sure if this was a different variety or maybe they harvest them earlier???

The big ones I had were good made into a pasty dip kind of like hummous.