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Fresh Corn and Fava Bean Salad

May 11, 2016 By justalittlebitofbacon 10 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. Click here for details.

Always wanted to buy some fava beans and didn’t know what to make? Well, then I have a fava bean salad for you! Sweet corn, fresh fava beans, spicy red onion, and earthy sage make for a great and tasty salad on a warm day.

Fresh Corn and Fava Bean Salad - This fresh and flavorful salad of corn and fava beans is a great way to take that tiny pile of fava beans which you extracted from a giant pile of bean pods and turn it into a satisfying side dish. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Hello, all!

Every year at the farmer’s market I wait patiently for fava beans to appear. I love them and I can only get them from my local farmers.

Unfortunately, these are not something I can ever find in the supermarket, though maybe you are luckier than I. If not, your best best is to head to the farmer’s market and check around.

For me fava beans are a mid-summer treat since I live in chilly Massachusetts. Around here the farmers plant favas for harvesting in July since the summers don’t get too hot and the winters get very cold.

In milder regions, favas are a spring crop, and in places where it gets neither too hot nor too cold, like Italy, favas can be an all year ’round crop, though from what I’ve read they are considered a spring vegetable there too. (At least Italian cookbooks always pair them with spring peas and asparagus.)

Since there are many people who should be looking for fava beans right now – you lucky people – I thought I’d post a fava bean recipe I made last summer. One I’m looking forward to making again!

Fresh Corn and Fava Bean Salad - This fresh and flavorful salad of corn and fava beans is a great way to take that tiny pile of fava beans which you extracted from a giant pile of bean pods and turn it into a satisfying side dish. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

The secret with fava beans is to either be happy with a little, teeny scoop of favas as a side or to combine them with complimentary vegetables for a more substantial meal.

Because that huge 2 pound pile of favas you bought and brought home? You are going to peel it twice. First to open up the big, puffy, fuzzy pod and extract the beans. That’s not too bad, since it’s fairly quick even though your bean pile is much smaller.

Ah…and then you need to peel off another layer! This leaves you with an even teenier amount of beans, but you are done and can eat them now. Yay! And they are totally worth eating, though I do recommend having a helper for the whole peeling process. Not only will another set of hands move things along, but you will also have someone to talk to and complain about it with. These are both good things. šŸ™‚

Fresh Corn and Fava Bean Salad - This fresh and flavorful salad of corn and fava beans is a great way to take that tiny pile of fava beans which you extracted from a giant pile of bean pods and turn it into a satisfying side dish. | justalittlebitofbacon.com

Don’t let all the peeling stop you, though! Even if you don’t have a helper. Think of it as an adventure in food, especially since you probably won’t get a chance to buy them more than a couple of times in a season. That’s not much peeling, right?

Just enough to make a quick fava bean saute with parmesan or this yummy salad!


If you try my recipe for Corn and Fava Bean Salad, I would love to hear from you in the comments with your experience and rating! And I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.

You can connect with me by subscribing to my emails (see the form in the sidebar or below the recipe card), liking my FACEBOOK page, or by following me on PINTEREST.

– Happy Eating, Annemarie

Fresh Corn and Fava Bean Salad - This fresh and flavorful salad of corn and fava beans is a great way to take that tiny pile of fava beans which you extracted from a giant pile of bean pods and turn it into a satisfying side dish. | justalittlebitofbacon.com
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

Fresh Corn and Fava Bean Salad

This fresh and flavorful salad of corn and fava beans is a great way to take that tiny pile of fava beans which you extracted from a giant pile of bean pods and turn it into a satisfying side dish.
Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time5 mins
Total Time35 mins
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 300kcal
Author: justalittlebitofbacon

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs fava bean pods
  • 4 ears of corn
  • 1/2 medium red onion thinly sliced
  • 8 sage leaves thinly sliced
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil on the stove and set up a bowl of ice water.
  • While you are waiting for the water to boil, split open the fava bean pods and free the fava beans from their fluffy pods.
  • Cook the fava beans for 2 minutes; then drain and put them in the ice water to cool.
  • Once cool, slip the fava beans from their skins. If the skins aren't breaking open easily for you, slit the skins with a paring knife as needed.
  • Cut the kernels off the ears of corn and add them to a medium serving bowl along with the fava beans, red onion, and sage.
  • In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Serve immediately.

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Filed Under: 10 ingredients or less, gluten free, recipe, salads, side dishes, spring, summer, vegan, vegetable dishes, vegetarian Tagged With: corn, fava beans

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Comments

  1. Emma says

    May 22, 2019 at 6:47 am

    5 stars
    When I saw the name of this dish I was trying to work out what fava beans were šŸ˜› but I realise they’re the same as braod beans now!! It’s funny how American English and English differ sometimes šŸ™‚ this recipe is delicious.

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      May 23, 2019 at 9:11 am

      Ah. That might a good thing to note in the write up. I have heard of broad beans and knew it was another name for favas, but hadn’t thought about providing an American/British translation.

      Reply
  2. Diana says

    July 30, 2017 at 4:42 am

    5 stars
    I love fava beans and love your fava beans salad! Very healthy and delicious!

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      July 30, 2017 at 10:12 pm

      It’s a fun way to have favas and a great way to stretch them out a bit. šŸ™‚

      Reply
  3. Bintu says

    June 25, 2016 at 6:26 am

    5 stars
    My gosh your salad looks so fresh and inviting. I feel like I need a bowl or two.

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      June 26, 2016 at 12:09 am

      Thank you! šŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Fareeha says

    June 5, 2016 at 1:53 am

    Looks so vibrant and delicious. I love corn and the addition of the fava only means that it must be blisssss to try this out

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      June 6, 2016 at 12:08 am

      Thank you! I do love the combo of the fava and the corn.

      Reply
  5. Tara says

    June 4, 2016 at 3:36 pm

    Such a beautiful summer salad! I have actually never used fava beans before. Sounds perfect paired with the corn.

    Reply
    • justalittlebitofbacon says

      June 4, 2016 at 4:20 pm

      Thanks! Fresh fava beans are so great that I hope you find some. They are a fair amount of work to peel, but for a few times a year I don’t mind all. I think they are worth it. šŸ™‚

      Reply

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Hello, I’m Annemarie

Welcome to my kitchen! I’m a Italian-American girl who loves fresh foods, local ingredients, and all sorts of comfort foods. Here you will find Mediterranean flavors and recipes from a New England perspective.

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