Rice and fava beans

May 13, 2012  •  Category:

 

The fava beans have been ubiquitous lately; every street vendor, every greengrocer, is carrying mounds of freshly picked fava beans. Some are large (stalks are about 7 inches long) and get plucked open, seeds eaten and pods discarded; others are tiny (about 3 to 4 inches long) and get cooked whole pods and seeds, just like green beans, with a simple dressing of cilantro and garlic pesto. 


You can also do the Lebanese thing: Eat them raw, as a snack, with a beer or a glass of arak.

This rice is delicious and filling and simple to prepare. 

INGREDIENTS: 4 servings

  • 1 pound of fava beans
  • 1 1/4 cup of rice (any type, here Italian or Egyptian rice is used, any starchy rice like sushi will do)
  • 1 large onion
  • olive oil, as needed
  • salt to taste and 1 tsp of cumin
  • 1 cube of bouillon either veggie or chicken (optional)
  • 1 pound of plain yogurt, to serve with (optional)
METHOD:
  1. Chuck the fava beans pods and remove the seeds; set aside. Chop the onion fine and heat a few tablespoons of oil in the pot. When hot, add the onion and fry till translucent and golden; add the rice and fry for a couple of minutes till the grains are coated in oil. Add the fava beans and  3 cups of water (follow the directions on the package depending on the rice you use). Throw the bouillon cube if using in the water, cumin, and cover the pot. Let it simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked. Toss and serve warm or at room temperature, with a side of yogurt if desired.
NOTE: Some people find the skins to be hard to digest; the skins can be removed prior to cooking or after. 
The fava beans (with the trash bag to dispose of the stalks and shells) were served as a snack at the new TAWLET Ammiq restaurant in the Bekaa Valley, Kamal Mouzawak‘s latest venture. (More on that later this week).

Comments

20 Comments  •  Comments Feed

  1. Rosa says:

    A delicious combination! So healthy too.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  2. Angie@Angiesrecipes says:

    The rice looks very tasty and it’s easy to prepare.

  3. anisa says:

    masha`allah … i would never think to do it with rice as we make it with cous cous with some of the skin and sometimes without

  4. Bria @ WestofPersia says:

    Love this. So simple, yet so satisfying!

  5. Viviane@Taste-Buds says:

    I love rice and fava beans! It is one of my favorite things to eat in summer, it is light and tasty, with some yogurt or a fresh salad. YUM!! Thanks for reminding me of that dish, I will be on the lookout for Fava beans here in Cali… My mom makes a meaty version that I die for.

    • Joumana says:

      @Viviane: thanks for reminding me I forgot to add that it is eaten with yogurt! Here too mom loves the meaty version!

  6. Baltic Maid says:

    I have never tried fava beans before. I will keep my eyes open for them because I want to make this dish. It looks delicious!

  7. Belinda @zomppa says:

    Sweet! I’d love to grab a chair at that table and go to town on those beans!

  8. sare says:

    Delicious…
    We love this rice and I also serve it with some fresh chopped dill. Cacık is the favourite side option.
    I also love fresh fava beans were served as snack:))
    Some part of Türkiye people like to eat boiled fava beans.

  9. Ed Habib says:

    I do love raw fava beans. The gentleman in the picture has arak AND beer. I want to party with him

  10. Barbara says:

    Great dish, Joumana. The last time I made fava beans I DID remove the skins. I thought I was supposed to. Can’t wait to them without. Much simpler!

  11. Nadine says:

    I love when fava beans are in season. My in-laws grow them in their organic garden, they visited and brought 3 pounds with them. I made them 2 weeks ago and i posted the recipe on my new blog.
    http://reinventingnadine.blogspot.com/2012/05/fava-beans-and-rice.html

  12. Joan Nova says:

    I’m really enjoying the people and culture shots you’ve been including with your posts – and, of course, your food!

  13. Paula Mello says:

    Here in Brazil we often find white fava beans, equally good. Love the colours, we eat with the eyes first!

  14. Chiara says:

    so simple, so tasty, thanks for sharing…

  15. Linds says:

    Great to see 961 beer make a sneaky appearance!

  16. Oui, Chef says:

    There is hardly anything better than fresh favas!

  17. Susan says:

    I’ve never enjoyed fresh fava beans but I love the long table set with beans and the bags for the shells. What a healthy snack!

  18. weirdcombos says:

    Joumana,
    This season we have not bought fava beans, They’ve been coming from our community garden either from our own plot from the plot or our plot neighbors. Guess what they just plant them to fix the the nitrogen in the soil. They think it is too much work to shell the beans and peel the membrane off of the bean! I guess Mcdonalds is easier lol
    Good for us because I just go harvest them for ourselves!
    Very good, complete and healthy recipe.
    Cheers,
    h
    H

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