Vicia Faba

A flowering plant with delicate blooms in the pea family. This humble plant has supported human history with rich vitamins and delicious flavors. It is more commonly known as the Broad Bean, Fava bean or Faba bean.

The culinary uses of the delightful Broad Bean are now global. Those unfamiliar may point fingers at the apparent toxicity present if one was to consume large amounts of uncooked beans. This is for the uninitiated to keep out those without a refined palette. In fact simply boiling this beautiful bean for 10 minutes makes it quite appetizing.

You may have heard of The Falafel. There are historians in Egypt that will say that I’m a liar. Propagandist aside, the noble broad bean was thought to be the first ingredient used in this crisp treat by the Romans. The cooking technique eventually spread throughout the area reaching Egypt.

Vicia Faba is used in a variety of recipes across the planet. Far too numerous to name in one document. I hope you enjoy this useful and delicious bean painted in Japanese Sumi on paper by Adam Stewart paired with beautiful music by The House of Breaking Glass.