Difference between revisions of "Broad beans"

Revision as of 17:51, 30 June 2012

Broad beans in the pod

Fried broad beans

About broad beans

Vicia faba, the broad bean, fava bean, faba bean, horse bean, field bean, bell bean or tic bean is a species of bean (Fabaceae) native to north Africa and southwest Asia, and extensively cultivated elsewhere.

Culinary uses

Broad beans are eaten while still young and tender, enabling harvesting to begin as early as the middle of spring for plants started under glass or over-wintered in a protected location, but even the maincrop sown in early spring will be ready from mid to late summer. Horse beans, left to mature fully, are usually harvested in the late autumn.

The beans can be fried, causing the skin to split open, and then salted and/or spiced to produce a savoury crunchy snack. These are popular in China, Peru (habas saladas), Mexico (habas con chile) and in Thailand (where their name means "open-mouth nut").

In the Sichuan cuisine of China, broad beans are combined with soybeans and chili peppers to produce a spicy fermented bean paste called doubanjiang.

In most Arab countries the fava bean is used for a breakfast meal called ful medames. Ful medames is usually crushed fava beans in a sauce although the Fava beans do not have to be crushed.

In Iran, cooked broad beans served with pepper and salt are sold on streets in winter. This food is also available conserved in metal cans.

How to cook broad beans in a pressure cooker

Use this basic guide if you do not have a specific recipe

• Pick through the beans and discard any discoloured beans or loose skins
• Soak in cold water for a minimum of the time shown, soaking overnight is usually the best way to achieve this
• Change soaking water a few times if possible
• Never cook the beans in the water they were soaked in
• Rinse the beans well at the end of the soaking period
• Ensure the pressure cooker is at least a quarter full
• Never fill the pressure cooker more than half full
• Always cover the beans with at least 5 cm (2") water
• Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to the water - this reduces foaming
• Allow the pressure cooker to get to the required pressure and then begin timing
• Use the specified pressure release method - this is the natural method in the case of dried beans or pulses
• A bean is usually prefectly cooked when it can be easily squashed between your forefinger and thumb
• If the beans are not sufficiently cooked, return to pressure, cook for another 3 minutes and allow the pressure to reduce using the natural method.
  Re-check that the beans are cooked to your liking.

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