By Mayo Clinic Staff
Fava beans with garlic

Dietitian's tip:

Fava beans are high in protein, fiber and other key nutrients. They have a buttery taste and creamy texture. You can buy them fresh, frozen or dried.

Number of servings

Serves 4
  1. Gluten-free
  2. Healthy-carb
  3. Weight management
  4. Low-fat
  5. Diabetes meal plan
  6. DASH diet
  7. High-fiber
  8. Heart-healthy
  9. Meatless
  10. Plant-based
  11. Low-sodium

Ingredients

  1. 3 pounds fava (broad) beans in pods, once shelled about 2 cups
  2. 1 tablespoon olive oil
  3. 1/4 cup minced yellow onion
  4. 1 clove garlic, minced
  5. 1/2 cup unsalted vegetable stock, chicken stock or broth
  6. 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  7. 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  8. 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf (Italian) parsley

Directions

To get the beans out of fava bean pods, snap them in half or open them along the seam.

Fill a large saucepan 3/4 full with water and bring to a boil. Add the fava beans and cook for about 1-2 minutes. Drain and rinse right away with cold water to stop the cooking. Pat dry. Use a small knife or your fingernail to open the skin and gently push out the inner fava bean.

In a large saucepan with a tightfitting lid, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until soft and lightly golden, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds; don't let the garlic brown. Add the fava beans and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer, shaking the pan gently from time to time, until the beans are tender, about 15 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve right away.

Nutritional analysis per serving

Serving size: 1 cup

  • Calories 131
  • Total carbohydrate 19 g
  • Total sugars 2 g
  • Dietary fiber 5 g
  • Protein 7 g
  • Total fat 4 g
  • Saturated fat 0.5 g
  • Monounsaturated fat 2.5 g
  • Polyunsaturated fat 0.5 g
  • Sodium 145 mg
  • Potassium 253 mg
  • Calcium 39 mg
  • Magnesium 38 mg
  • Iron 1.5 mg
April 04, 2026