7 Flavorful Fava Bean Recipes

Grilled Fava Bean Pods with Chile and Lemon

"Trust me," says chef Nate Appleman about this unorthodox recipe. He quickly grills whole fava beans, tosses them with a crushed red pepper dressing and serves them hot. They can be eaten whole—the tender pods develop a lovely charred flavor on the grill—but it's also easy to eat them in the traditional way by popping the beans out of their pods and outer skins.

Fava Bean Pasta e Fagioli

Chef Mike Lata's spring version of pasta e fagioli, the Italian soup, uses fresh fava beans in place of borlotti or cannellini beans, along with meaty bits of bacon and a sprinkling of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Spring Peas and Greens with Cacio e Pepe Dressing

Inspired by cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper), the classic Italian pasta sauce, this salad features spring greens and fava beans topped with a delicious buttermilk dressing.

Beer-Braised Chicken Stew with Fava Beans and Peas

Paul Kahan is a big fan of chicken thighs because they have so much flavor and are so inexpensive — the best of both worlds. He braises the thighs in beer to make an excellent spring stew that he (naturally) pairs with more beer, such as Pere Jacques from Chicago's Goose Island Beer Company, a Belgian-style ale full of caramelized malt flavors.

Charred Fava Bean Salad with Lemon and Tarragon

It's nearly impossible to grill tiny favas, but the sweet-starchy beans get a similar smoky flavor when they're charred quickly in a hot skillet. Jean-Georges Vongerichten tosses the charred beans with garlic, jalapeño, tarragon, and cubes of cheese for a warm salad.

• More Recipes from Jean-Georges Vongerichten

Artichoke Custards with Fava Bean Sauce

In an homage to spring, Rolando Beramendi makes these lush custards with fresh artichokes; the flavor is wonderfully vivid.

Spring Vegetable Stew

When fresh fava beans are available, use them in place of the cranberry beans.