Peeled dried fava beans
Peeled dried fava beans have had their outer seed covering removed. Their pale pieces cook into the soft base of fave e cicorie, where a smooth bean purée meets bitter greens and olive oil.
- Form
- Dried fava beans without the outer skin.
- In the pan
- A base for purées, soups and creams.
Let the beans soften fully
Rinse the beans and follow the package’s instructions for soaking, if needed, and cooking. Products differ, so check the actual bag rather than applying the preparation of whole unpeeled fava beans automatically. Keep enough liquid in the pan as the beans soften.
For a purée, work the tender beans to the consistency required by the recipe. Adjust with a little cooking liquid as needed; the aim is a soft base that holds beside the greens, not a dry paste.
Pale beans, a different result
Decorticating removes the outside of the dry seed. The resulting pale beans may be sold as separated halves or pieces, rather than the tan, skin-on whole form. This is the useful distinction when shopping for a fava purée. Fave e cicorie brings the soft beans together with cooked chicory. The contrast comes from the two components, not from adding a different bean or treating fresh fava beans as an equivalent shortcut.
Serve beside the greens
Spoon the fava purée onto the plate and add the cooked chicory. Finish with the olive oil specified in the recipe. Keep the two textures recognizable, whether you serve them side by side or bring a little of each into the same bite.
Cook with it
Read the form on the bag
Look for dried, peeled or decorticated fava beans. Pale flat pieces are different from whole beans wearing their tan skins. Choose a plain food-grade product and check the ingredient list if buying a prepared mix.
Separate pantry storage from prepared food
Keep the dry product tightly closed and follow its storage directions and date. Once the beans are soaked or cooked, treat them as prepared food rather than a pantry ingredient. Cool and refrigerate promptly, following the recipe and package guidance.
