Broad beans or fava beans

Our broad beans also known as "fava beans" are large, tender and always cook evenly.

They are extremely versatile and lend themselves to being the main ingredient of many recipes from broad bean purée also known as "macco", perfect served with boiled chicory as is done in Puglia, to soups, soups , etc.

HERE'S HOW TO COOK DRY BROAD BEANS:

1. Soaking: Begin by soaking the dry broad beans overnight in a large bowl of cold water. Make sure there's enough water to cover the beans by a few inches. Soaking helps to soften the beans and reduce cooking time.

2. Drain and Rinse: The next day, drain the soaked broad beans and rinse them under cold running water. This step helps to remove any impurities and excess starch.

3. Cooking on the Stovetop:
- In a large pot, add the soaked and rinsed broad beans.
- Cover the beans with fresh water, ensuring there's enough water to fully submerge them.
- Optionally, you can add aromatics such as garlic, onion, bay leaves, or herbs for added flavor.
- Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the beans simmer gently.
- Cook the beans uncovered for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until they are tender. Check the beans occasionally and add more water if needed to keep them submerged.

4. Pressure Cooking (Optional):
- If you're short on time, you can also cook dry broad beans in a pressure cooker.
- After soaking and rinsing the beans, add them to the pressure cooker along with fresh water.
- Cook the beans according to your pressure cooker's instructions. Typically, it takes about 20-30 minutes at high pressure to cook soaked broad beans.

5. Testing for Doneness: To check if the beans are done, carefully scoop out a few beans and taste them. They should be soft and creamy but not mushy.

6. Drain and Serve: Once the beans are cooked to your liking, drain them in a colander and rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process. You can now use the cooked broad beans in various dishes such as soups, stews, salads, or purees.

By following these steps, you can cook dry broad beans until they are tender and ready to be enjoyed in your favorite recipes.

And now enjoy an additional recipe to be prepared with the cooked broad beans ;)

BROAD BEANS HUMMUS WITH MINT

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups of broad beans 

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon of chopped parsley

1 teaspoon of chopped mint

2 teaspoons of lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste . b .

DIRECTIONS:

Heat the oil in a large pan.

Add the broad beans and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add parsley , mint , lemon juice , salt and pepper and mix well.

Serve hot or at room temperature.