Fava beans (broad beans)

فول / fūl · fava bean · broad bean

Flavor and role

Large, nutty beans; fresh ones are green and sweet, dried ones are floury. They are also the raw material for doubanjiang.

Typical dishes and uses

Ful medames (Egypt), ta'ameya (Egyptian falafel), Spanish habas con jamon

Substitutes

Replace dried favas with chickpeas, fresh favas with peas or edamame 1:1. People with G6PD deficiency should not eat them.

Storage

Dried beans keep 1 year at room temperature; fresh beans, shelled and blanched, freeze for 6 months.

Main countries

Egypt · Ethiopia · Spain

Used in this book

Ful MedamesFava and Chickpea Falafel with Parsley Tarator and Sumac OnionsSlow-Simmered Ful with Tahini and Garlic TashaFul Medames Huevos RancherosWhipped Ful & Tahini Toast with Za'atar

Updated 2026-10-10