Fava beans: A nutritious summer treat for healthier snacking

It's genuinely a vitamin bomb. Fresh and young fava beans can easily be found at markets or stores. They taste best right after purchase. Cooked fava beans can be a great evening snack while watching a movie - instead of chips or peanuts.

Summer is short, so it's worth using seasonal vegetables and fruits when preparing meals. Green beans, zucchini, asparagus, and fava beans are popular.

The same goes for fruits. Just thinking about fresh blueberries, cherries, or strawberries makes your mouth water. Summer is the best time to experiment with lighter dishes and to use the freshest ingredients.

Fava beans contain a lot of fibre, which aids digestion and prevents constipation. They also contain B vitamins, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and potassium. Due to their high folic acid content, fava beans are particularly recommended for pregnant women. Raw fava beans are also suitable for people with diabetes, thanks to their low glycemic index. It's worth including them in your diet.

The simplest way to prepare fava beans is to cook them in water with salt and sugar. Prepared this way, they make a great snack – a healthy alternative to chips or pretzels. First, rinse the fava beans thoroughly, place them in water, and cook for no more than 15 minutes. This way, they remain crunchy. Some people also eat fava beans raw.

You can use them in a salad. Peel the fava beans and place them in a bowl. Add chopped tomato, fresh radish, avocado, and grated cucumber. Sprinkle with chives and season with salt and pepper to taste. You can also add your favourite cheese.

Another option is fried fava beans, which taste exquisite. You can make them quickly without spending long hours in the kitchen. Place the washed fava beans in a pot of boiling water. Cook for 5-6 minutes. Drain and toss them into a hot pan (you can use clarified butter or good-quality olive oil).

Season with your favourite spices and herbs. We particularly recommend garlic. Just a few minutes are enough for the skin to brown slightly. Prepared this way, fava beans are a real treat for the palate, especially on hot days.

You can also make purée from cooked fava beans. It makes an excellent side dish for meat or fish. Blend the cooked fava beans with a small amount of olive oil and garlic.