fava bean

noun

fa·va bean | \ˈfä-və-

Definition of fava bean

: the large, flat, edible, starchy seed of an Old World upright vetch (Vicia faba) that is typically pale green to whitish in color and is eaten raw, blanched, or cooked also : this plant widely grown for its seeds and as fodder

— called also broad bean, horse bean

— see favism

Examples of fava bean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fava Beans As a legume, fava beans fix nitrogen in the soil. — Sunset, "Top 10 Cover Crops for Your Fall Garden," 22 Jan. 2018 Holiday specials include Dungeness crab salad with beet purée, avocado, Beluga lentils and crème fraîche; and Alaskan halibut and clams with fingerlings, fava beans and chorizo. — Julie Giuffrida, latimes.com, "Where to take mom for Mother's Day brunch," 3 May 2018 Antipasti specials include a salad of frisée, asparagus, fresh fava beans, tarragon, crispy guanciale and farm egg ($23). — Julie Giuffrida, latimes.com, "Our 2018 Easter dining guide: brunch buffets, mimosas and plenty of eggs," 27 Mar. 2018 Dozens of pick-your-own options range from fava beans to squash blossoms to kohlrabi, and a platoon of pull wagons are available to haul in your harvest. — Larry Bleiberg, USA TODAY, "10 great pick-your-own farms across the USA," 22 June 2018 The old Italian men pass their mornings near the top of the hill, tending thick grapevines and rows of fava beans, smoking crumbling Toscano cigars, staying out of the house. — Joe Mozingo, latimes.com, "One of L.A.'s oldest community gardens thrived for decades. Then the water wars began.," 4 June 2018 In the vegetable store, artichokes, fava beans, radicchio, tomatoes, carrots, leeks and squash blossoms are so artfully arranged as to shame any Whole Foods market. — Necee Regis, BostonGlobe.com, "Resort’s Tuscany cooking class has all the right ingredients," 2 July 2018 Other traditional offerings could include crispy falafel patties made from chickpeas or fava beans, or chicken and beef wrapped into a warm pita with vegetables and tangy sauces that ooze out with every bite. — Allison Steele, Philly.com, "Ramadan a time for peace, joyful celebration - and nightly feasts," 5 June 2018 And my market bag was bulging with leeks, green garlic shoots and glorious colorful chard, fat yellow carrots and fava beans. — David Tanis, New York Times, "Lamb Stew, Now Lighter and Brighter," 11 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fava bean.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.