Spotting the Difference Between Romano Beans vs. Fava Beans
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While often considered the other’s substitution in many recipes, Romano beans and Fava beans are not the same. Romano beans are commonly referred to as Italian flat beans or Italian snap beans, whereas fava beans are called Italian broad beans. But how does one spot the difference between these two beans?
Romano Beans
Flavor Of Romano Beans
Romano beans are broad and flat, have a juicy, sweet flavor, and have a great crunch. They come in various colors ranging from green, yellow, and purple — with yellow and green being the most common. They’re typically four to six inches long and can grow much larger during peak season. Like other snap beans, Romano beans are meant to be eaten whole. They’re ripe when they make a crisp snap if broken in half and have a mild flavor with a tender texture.
How To Cook Romano Beans
Romano beans are often braised with other vegetables. They can be added to soups, stir-fries, and various other recipes that retain their crunchy texture or focus on the flavor by making them extremely tender. To cook, snap or trump off the ends and rinse the pods to remove any dirt.
When selecting Romano beans, one should choose crisp specimens with even coloration and no soft spots or mold. Limp, listless beans should be avoided. These beans can be stored in paper bags and used within a few days or pickled for a snapping fresh texture and flavor.
Fava Beans
Flavor of Fava Beans
Fava beans grow in big, bumpy green pods and are harvested in the spring. Inside the soft pods are large, flat, bright green beans with a tough skin. This skin is typically removed before eating. Though labor intensive, fava beans are sought out by many chefs and veggie lovers for their delicate, buttery, and nut-forward flavor.
How To Cook With Fava Beans
The small young pods can sometimes be eaten whole, but Fava beans are typically removed from their pod (which is then discarded or composted). Beans are shelled by snapping off the step and pulling the string. Fresh, shelled Fava beans are often blanched to ease the process of removing the tough clear skin. Once complete, the beans can be enjoyed as is or cooked further through boiling, steaming, mashing, sautéing, frying, or roasting.
Due to the large variety of beans available in the United States, Fava beans are often skipped in favor of less prep and labor. This unfamiliarity causes many to ask, where to buy fava beans near me?
Where To Buy Fresh Beans
Riveria Produce is a wholesale green beans supplier, a Romano beans supplier, and a Fava beans supplier. They carry a selection that includes Romano and Fava beans and service New York, New Jersey, and Philidelphia.