Slow-Simmered Spiced Fava Beans with Lemon Zest

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-04 · Updated 2026-04-04

A comforting, protein-packed vegan dish of tender fava beans simmered with cumin, garlic, and bright lemon zest, served as a hearty main or side. This ethiopian-inspired vegetarian (vegan) ready in about 85 minutes pairs Dried fava beans, medium, finely chopped Onion, minced Garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Dried fava beans
• 1 medium, finely chopped Onion
• 2 cloves, minced Garlic
• 1 tsp Ground cumin
• 1, zest and juice Lemon
• 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
• 4 cups Water

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup dried fava beans under cold water and drain. Place them in a pot with 4 cups water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 1 hour until the beans are tender but not falling apart.
2. Step 2: While beans cook, heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a small saucepan over medium heat (325°F/160°C). Add 1 medium finely chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes until soft and golden, then stir in 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1 tsp ground cumin to the onion mixture and stir for 30 seconds to toast the spice, then pour the mixture into the pot of simmering beans.
4. Step 4: Continue simmering the beans uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced by half and the beans are very tender.
5. Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 1 tbsp lemon zest and the juice of 1 lemon. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt if needed. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving.