These parmesan baked fava bean chips are a crispy, crunchy snack idea - perfect for entertaining, or for a nut-free lunchbox snack!
I'm so glad I discovered how to make these little baked fava bean chips. They're such tasty little nibbles, and can be used in all sorts of ways: everything from a classy appetiser to serve with wine, all the way to the other end of the spectrum, as a fun nut-free snack for your kid's lunchbox. They're so easy to make too!
What are fava beans?
Fava beans (also known as broad beans) are often eaten in their fresh, green form. They're used all over the world in all sorts of ways (check out this list!).
If you buy fava beans in their dried and split form, when they are small and light brown in colour, they're perfect for making these crunchy fava bean snacks.
Dried split fava beans actually aren't the easiest thing to find, at least in the UK, but you can buy them online. I bought these ones* from Amazon - it's about a fiver for a bag, but one bag is enough to make 4 batches of fava bean chips, so it works out pretty economical overall (cheaper than buying 4 big bags of fancy crisps!).
Crunchy fava bean snack
When fava beans are roasted, they become crispy and crunchy, and a brilliant alternative to potato chips or roasted nuts. I discovered them around Christmas time a few years ago. Every year at that time, we avoid having to make actual meals by surviving solely on little canapés and snacks for about two weeks. And these crispy fava beans are one of my favourite little nibbles!
You can flavour your fava bean chips with anything you like. I used vegetarian parmesan cheese ('real' parmesan is made with cow's rennet, which isn't veggie), and it works so well. Not only do you get the crunchy beans themselves, but you also get little flecks of crispy parmesan cheese, which brings so much flavour. Is there anything that tastes better than crispy cheese?!
How to make homemade fava bean chips
Step 1: Boil the split fava beans
First, boil the dried beans until they're soft. It takes half an hour or so, so I'd recommend boiling them while you're doing something else (cooking dinner / cleaning the kitchen / chatting on the phone, etc...), just to save time.
Step 2: Toss the cooked beans in olive oil
Add some olive oil, and spread the cooked beans out on a baking tray. At this point, you can add plenty of salt and pepper, and whatever dried herbs and spices you fancy.
This time, I just used some mixed Italian-style dried herbs. In the past I've used my beloved smoked paprika instead, which also works well (though it does turn the fava bean chips a bit neon orange!).
Step 3: Part-bake, then add the parmesan
Roast the fava beans for about 20 minutes, until they're starting to crisp up. Then add the finely grated parmesan, and mix everything together. This is where the magic happens - pop it back in the oven again, and as the cheese crisps up, it will bring so much amazing flavour to the beans.
Step 4: Roast again until crispy
After another 15 minutes in the oven, the fava bean chips will be golden brown and crispy all over.
You can eat them warm, straight off the tray (my preferred method, mainly due to my lack of self-control). Or, you can leave them to cool, then store them in an air-tight container until you're ready to eat.
Nut-free lunchbox snack
My daughter's starting school later this year, so I'm trying to stock up on ideas for nut-free lunchbox snacks. Most schools here don't allow any nuts in lunchboxes due to potential allergies in the school, and these fava bean chips are a perfect alternative.
They're nut-free, so able to be packed in school lunchboxes (as well as being suitable for those who suffer from nut allergies, of course). They serve the same function as a bag of crisps, but they're a nice change, and will keep your child full all afternoon.
They're also a bit less intensely crunchy than nuts, so less of a choking hazard for young kids.
How to serve fava bean chips
There are plenty of different ways to serve these fava bean chips. Here are some ideas:
- in a kids' lunchbox, as an alternative to nuts
- as a classy appetiser to serve with wine
- with a sandwich, instead of potato crisps
- scattered over a salad, crouton-style
- as a crunchy topping for soup
Are fava bean snacks healthy?
Everyone has their own definition of 'healthy', but I'd definitely place these fava bean chips closer to the 'healthy' end of my own personal spectrum. They're like 95% beans, which can't be bad, right?
And even though I did add some oil and parmesan cheese to my roasted fava beans, they're a good alternative to the big bag of crisps that I usually crave, while still tasting amazing and totally hitting the 'crunchy snack' spot.
Parmesan Baked Fava Bean Chips
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Print Pin CommentIngredients
- 125 g (~ ½ cup) dried split fava beans
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried mixed herbs
- 2 tablespoon finely grated vegetarian parmesan-style cheese
Instructions
- Boil the dried split fava beans in plenty of water for around 25-30 minutes, until they are soft, but still holding their shape. Drain away the water.
- Heat the oven to 150°C (Gas Mark 2 / 300°F).
- Add the olive oil to the pan of beans, and toss to coat the fava beans. Spread them out on a baking tray, in a single layer if possible, and sprinkle with salt, pepper and dried herbs.
- Place in the oven and roast for around 20 minutes, stirring halfway. The beans should be beginning to crisp up.
- Sprinkle the parmesan over the beans, and mix well. Spread the beans out again, and roast for a further 15 minutes, until crispy and golden brown.
- Eat warm, or leave to cool, and store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.
Looking for more lunchbox snack options? These carrot and cheddar bites are ideal:
Ray says
How do I get that crunch? I overcooked them and almost broke my teeth lol
Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says
I've just updated the recipe and it should be slightly less crunchy this time :)
Rob says
.........why not mention Christmas in March ?
Historians/theologians reckon it was on or around 20th March to early April that He was actually born.
(Excellent recipes, by the way !)
Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says
Interesting, I didn't know that! :)
ali talerman says
I can not find fava beans anywhere! would you mind linking them?
Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says
I used these ones :) https://hodmedods.co.uk/collections/beans/products/split-fava-beans
Claudia says
You can bake uncooked beans instead of boiling them ?
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Have you tried this? I don't think it would work.
Jin says
I can only find un-split fava beans. Tried once, and seems very hard to bite. Almost lost my molar. :(
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
That's a shame - I guess un-split fava beans will take a lot more cooking to soften them up, since they're twice as thick!
Elizabeth says
Just the recipe I was looking for! Thanks so very much! Can't wait to read more of your blog. I imagine you would be a very fun neighbor to have if only I lived across the pond.
Cheers!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Haha yes I do cook quite a lot, you're welcome round any time ;)
Christian says
Have you looked in oriental food markets? You also could use dried split fava beans for bessara, a dip or soup, or even for falafel. Falafel made completely from fava beans or one part fava and the other part chickpeas is the Egyptian way of making falafel and personally I highly recommend it over plain chickpea falafel!