Take a trip to Puglia, Italy with this easy, classic fava beans recipe for Puglian Fava Beans with Greens, which is absolute comfort food bliss!
The delicious, rustic Puglian food traditions of Southern Italy date back through the millennia. The foods are simple, based on what is regionally available in this sun-drenched Mediterranean climate. Classic bean dishes are part of those traditions. Filled with nutrition, good taste, and satisfaction, these bean recipes, served with the delicious local breads of Puglia (Apulia in Italian) are hearty and filling. While in Puglia, I enjoyed the classic local dish of fava pure e cicorielle (fava with chicory) at many meals. Completely plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free, it was pure bliss served with locally produced wheat bread and a salad of tomatoes and cucumbers with olive oil.
I brought back fava beans from Italy for this recipe, but you can easily find dried fava beans in many supermarkets and online shops. You can also substitute another type of bean, such as cannellini, flageolet, or white beans. In this recipe, Puglians use bitter greens, such as chicory, turnip greens, or wild greens, such as dandelion. I used dandelion in this recipe for Puglian Fava Beans with Greens, as it’s easily found in many supermarkets, farmers markets, or foraging sojourns. If you can’t find dandelion, try mustard greens.
Just soak the beans overnight, cook with fresh water and broth with onion and a few seasonings until tender, mash until soft, and top with the greens to let wilt. Drizzle with olive oil and dig in!
What are fava beans?
Also called broad beans, fava beans (one of the oldest plant foods in the world) may be enjoyed fresh and green in the spring and early summer right out of the pod, cooked lightly in dishes like pasta and salads. They are also dried so that you can use them in any dish that calls for dried beans, such as chili or cooked heirloom beans.
How to cook fava beans?
Dried fava beans must be soaked for about 8 hours to rehydrate, then they can be slowly simmered until they are tender for about 1 1/2 hours—they can be cooked in dishes, such as this fava bean recipe. They have a light, earthy, pleasant flavor that suits many recipes.
For other classic bean recipes, check out some of my favorites:
BEST Vegetarian Refried Beans Heirloom Bean Cassoulet with Root Vegetables Easy Instant Pot Black Tepary Beans BEST Vegetarian Baked Beans
