Boiled Fava Beans with Five Spices Powder

中文菜谱:五香水煮蚕豆

Last weekend we went shopping in a Mexican grocery store and found out they had fresh fava beans!  Wow, we don’t usually find fresh fava beans on the market.   

We boil them with five spices powder and some other spices.  It is simple but the taste and flavor are really great.

Ingredients

2 pounds fresh fava beans in the pods
1 teaspoon five spice powder
2 to 3 star annises
3 to 4 cloves
1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon sugar
salt to taste
water for boiling

 

Directions

Remove fava beans from pods.  It would be really fun to do it with young kids in the house if you have one or some.

In a small pot, add fava beans, five spice powder, star anises, clovers, Sichuan peppercorns, sugar and salt.  Add water to about 1 inch above the beans.

Heat over high heat.  When it comes to boil, reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

After turning off the heat, leave the beans soaking in the pot for another 10 minutes.

Drain well and serve either hot or cold.  

Cooked fresh young fava beans have similar texture as cooked potato but they are more on therefreshing side.