Spanish Fava Beans Recipe - The Fiery Vegetarian (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Deirdre Gilna. This post may contain affiliate links.

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This easy vegan fava beans recipe is the perfect easy tapa. Take some frozen tender baby fava beans (also known as baby broad beans) and cook them up with olive oil, garlic, onions, smoked paprika, and white wine to bring you the tastiest vegetarian version of habas con jamón.

Spanish Fava Beans Recipe - The Fiery Vegetarian (1)

No peeling, no muss, no fuss, and ready in under half an hour, serve this gorgeous easy tapa with some good crusty bread for mopping up the juices, and as part of a mezze meal or along with some other delicious Spanish tapas.

I highly recommend slicing up the bread and popping this baby on the table along with some Mediterranean white bean salad (takes just five minutes to make), olives, peperoncino or guindillas (pickled basque peppers), roasted red peppers, and my easy creamy vegan goat cheese for a Spanish style tapas meal that is sure to impress.

Spanish fava beans are traditionally served at room temperature in bars here in Spain and usually have ham added for extra flavor, but you won’t find this ham-free vegetarian version lacking in flavor.

Spanish Fava Beans Recipe - The Fiery Vegetarian (2)

How to make this fava beans recipe

As with most good Spanish dishes, there are just a handful of ingredients but they do need to be high quality.

You MUST use young fava/baby broad beans for this dish, the larger old ones won’t do as they will need to be peeled to remove the tough exterior.

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I use frozen ones for convenience but you can also use fresh ones as they should cook through with the same amount of cooking time.

First, grab a large onion, peel, and chop finely. Cook in four tablespoons of olive oil over high heat for five minutes, stirring often. You really do need to use quite a bit of olive oil as it’s crucial to the flavor, but if you really must, you can reduce it to three tablespoons.

We’re frying the onions over a high heat to get them nice and brown and you will need to stir them often to stop them burning.

If you have a particularly hot efficient stovetop and you notice the onions starting to blacken, do turn the heat down to medium-high or move to the next step.

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Add in the chopped garlic (3 cloves), smoked paprika (preferably hot smoked paprika, not the sweet one which has a bit of a claggy taste), and freshly ground black pepper (around 1/4 tsp).

Reduce the heat to medium-high and fry a further five minutes, again, stirring often.

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Now add in the frozen or fresh young fava beans (baby broad beans) and stir to coat well with the onion and olive oil mixture.

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Add the white wine and deglaze the pan using a wooden or plastic spoon to scrape up any bits that have stuck to the pan. After one minute, add half a cup of good quality vegetable stock and half a teaspoon of salt.

Turn the heat up to high and cover with a lid, and cook for ten minutes, stirring now and then, more often as the level of liquid reduces.

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Remove the lid, reduce the heat to medium and cook a further five minutes or more if needed, stirring to prevent sticking until the sauce is thick and nearly evaporated. There should be a little sauce, but not much.

Sprinkle over some chopped fresh parsley (optional). It’s not a traditional addition but a little will pep up the dish.

If you have some typical Spanish-style glazed terracotta dishes, spoon the baby broad beans into them to cool, while you get together any other tapas you wish to serve, and slice up some crusty bread for mopping up leftover sauce.

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You can serve this on one dish as a big tapa (called a ración) that everyone helps themselves to, or in smaller plates for individual servings. This will make about 4 tapa-size servings or 2 raciones.

This dish will keep about 4 days tightly covered in the fridge but it’s best to allow it to come to room temperature for serving.

Buen provecho!

Did you make this recipe? Let me know how much you loved it with a star rating in the recipe box, review, or comment below.

Or take a picture and tag me on Instagram (@the_fiery_vegetarian), I love seeing all your creations!

Yield: 4 tapas

Spanish Fava Beans Recipe (Broad Beans)

Spanish Fava Beans Recipe - The Fiery Vegetarian (9)

This easy vegan tapa consists of baby broad beans (young fava beans) cooked up with olive oil, onion, garlic paprika and black pepper to create the perfect accompaniment to any Spanish-style meal, with some fresh crusty bread to soak up the moreish sauce.

Prep Time3 minutes

Cook Time25 minutes

Total Time28 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp olive oil,
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped,
  • 3 large cloves garlic, peeled and chopped,
  • 1/2 tsp hot smoked paprika
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper,
  • 17.5 oz fresh or frozen young fava beans (baby broad beans, 500g),
  • 2/3 cup dry white wine,
  • 1/2 cup vegetable stock,
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped finely (optional, to serve)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a pan on a high heat and add the chopped onions. Cook for five minutes, stirring often.
  2. Add the garlic, paprika, and black pepper and reduce to medium-high, cook five minutes more stirring often.
  3. Add the beans and toss to coat, followed by the white wine to deglaze the pan.
  4. One minute later, add the vegetable stock and salt. Cover the pan with a lid and cook on high heat for ten minutes, stirring every now and then.
  5. Remove the lid and reduce the heat, cooking for a further five minutes or until the sauce has thickened and reduced considerably to your liking, stirring to prevent sticking.
  6. Plate and leave to cool while you put together the rest of your tapas.
  7. Serve close to or at room temperature with the optional fresh chopped parsley sprinkled over and gently mixed through and enjoy!

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per ServingCalories 308Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 0mgSodium 677mgCarbohydrates 30gFiber 7gSugar 4gProtein 10g

Did you make this recipe?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. June Mackenzie

    I am wondering when to add the parsley.
    Thanks,
    June

    Reply

    • Deirdre Gilna

      Hi June, the finely chopped fresh parsley is optional and is to serve, so if using it just sprinkle it over and gently mix through just before serving.

      Reply

  2. Lorena

    Can I use soaked Fava beans? I figure it would taste a bit different with the dried soaked…but thought I’d ask.

    Reply

    • Deirdre Gilna

      Hi Lorena, good question! You can definitely use soaked Fava beans, although as they’re not baby fava beans they’ll need to be peeled before adding them in. You may also need to add some extra water to help them cook as they’ll need at least ten minutes instead of the five in the recipe, and they may not hold together as well as baby fava beans, but it should still be very tasty!

      Reply

  3. Susanne

    So delicious! Muchos gracias from West Clare! Broad beans are ready for picking here now, so delighted to find your superb recipe. Susanne

    Reply

    • The Fiery Vegetarian

      Thanks Susanne! Man, I really miss home-grown broad beans from back home!

      Reply

Spanish Fava Beans Recipe - The Fiery Vegetarian (2024)

FAQs

Do fava beans need to be soaked before cooking? ›

To prepare your fresh fava beans, you have to soak them to loosen the protective outer layer: pour 10 cups of water into a pot for every pound of beans, and let them soak overnight to loosen their outer layers. As an alternative, you can boil the beans for three minutes and then let them soak in hot water for one hour.

Do fava beans increase blood sugar? ›

Our roasted fava bean snacks, and pulses in general, have a low glycaemic index which is great for those trying to manage type 2 diabetes in particular. After you snack, you wont experience the same spike in blood sugar like you might do after eating a packet of crisps.

Is avarekai good for health? ›

Sogadu Avarekai is that one expression that a true Bangalorean will relate to. The hyacinth bean is full of nutrients that enhance health and prevent disease. Hyacinth beans (dry) are one of the finest sources of several B-complex vitamins like thiamin, pyridoxine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, folates, and niacin.

Why do fava beans turn water red? ›

So I checked, and it turns out that the skins of most legume seeds, favas included, are rich in the same proanthocyanidins. New theory! Colorless proanthocyanidins in bean seedcoats release fragments into the cooking water, and these are what turn the water pink.

When should you not eat fava beans? ›

When a person with G6PD deficiency eats fava beans, a condition known as "favism" can be triggered due to the presence of naturally occurring compounds vicine and convicine in the beans. These compounds are relatively heat stable and are not removed by cooking.

What happens if you don't soak beans before cooking? ›

Others, like Joe Yonan, the Food and Dining Editor of the Washington Post and author of Cool Beans, insist that in most cases, soaking is unnecessary– and may even lead to flavor loss. The only consensus is that soaked beans take less time to cook than unsoaked.

Who Cannot eat fava beans? ›

People with G6PD deficiency are told not to eat fava beans which are thought to be a problem due to a high concentration of two compounds, vicine and covicine (3). Other beans don't contain vicine and covicine.

What happens if you eat too many fava beans? ›

But for some reason, eating beans can result in more than just bloating and flatulence. Fava beans, also known as broad beans, can cause some people to experience a sudden rapid breakdown of their red blood cells, a condition known as hemolytic anemia.

What are the side effects of eating fava beans? ›

Symptoms. In humans, favism produces acute hemolytic anemia. After susceptible subjects eat the beans, symptoms can occur in 5–24 h. The symptoms include headache, vomiting, nausea, yawning, stomach pains, and a raised temperature.

What is the healthiest bean on earth? ›

The 7 Healthiest Beans to Eat, According to Dietitians
  1. Lentils. Lentils are rich in polyphenols, plant-based compounds that have both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. ...
  2. White Beans. ...
  3. Black Beans. ...
  4. Chickpeas. ...
  5. Pinto Beans. ...
  6. Red Kidney Beans. ...
  7. Lupini Beans.
Aug 14, 2023

Which bean is a Superfood? ›

According to healthline, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), lentils, peas, kidney beans, and black beans rank as the top five healthiest beans. These varieties tend to be the highest in fiber, folate and protein, and are the most effective at mitigating post-meal blood sugar spikes.

Who should not eat broad beans? ›

It is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and worldwide affects 400 million people, mainly of Mediterranean, African and Middle Eastern descent. On contact with broad bean products, susceptible individuals suffer a severe reaction, resulting in haemolytic anaemia.

Why can't I eat fava beans? ›

Favism (G6PD deficiency). Favism is an inherited disease in which a person lacks an enzyme called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). When these people eat fava beans, they develop a condition called hemolytic anemia. This anemia causes red blood cells to break apart and block blood vessels.

Is it safe to eat fava beans every day? ›

Fava beans are loaded with nutrients and may offer impressive health benefits. Eating these beans regularly may have benefits for symptoms of Parkinson's disease, help prevent birth defects, boost immunity, aid weight loss and lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

Why are fava beans lucky? ›

Cookies, cakes, and breads, often in the form of shellfish, are common decorations for altars. Fava beans, or “lucky beans,” are particularly associated with St. Joseph because they sustained the Sicilians throughout famine. Pick some up for good luck!

How long do you soak fava beans? ›

Place the beans in a large bowl and cover them with water. Add enough water to cover the beans by a few inches. Let the beans soak overnight or for at least 8 hours.

Why must fava beans be soaked and cooked longer than other beans? ›

First, you cook the fava beans — a multi-hour affair, since those tough skins need softening — over low heat so the insides don't turn to mush while the skins tenderize. Helou's workaround: Soak the favas with a little baking soda to help soften the skins, then drain and rinse them before cooking in fresh water.

How to cook dried fava beans without soaking? ›

Place the peeled fava beans in a pot and cover them with fresh water or vegetable broth. For every cup of beans, use about 3 cups of liquid. Bring the liquid to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook the beans for about 30-45 minutes or until they are tender.

Do broad beans need to be soaked? ›

Before planting, soak your seeds in a glass of water overnight. The broad bean, much like regular beans and peas, has the ability to hold moisture that will aid its germination. A soaking will help increase its reserve as well as reveal any unviable seeds. Those that float to the surface should be discarded.

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