Yerevan Purple Fava Bean

This fava bean was offered for sale by a country woman at a market in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. She had an impressive display of squash, traditional dried vegetables bound in woven knots, spices, herbs, seeds, and even dried green beans. These large fat dark purplish fava beans were grown on the outskirts of Yerevan. Fava beans are very cold resistant and in Armenia they are planted very early in the spring, one of the first crops to be planted. Locally fava beans are used in many ways, from hearty soups to tasty side dishes boiled and salted and served in oil.