Broad Bean (Field Bean)

Broad beans (Vicia faba) are stiffly erect plant in the Fabaceae family, native to North Africa and Southwest Asia but now widely cultivated elsewhere. It is also known as Bell Bean, Fava Bean, Broad Bean, Faba Bean, English Bean, Field Bean, Horse Bean, Haba, Tic Bean, Field Bean, Windsor Bean, and Tick Bean. It is grown for its ovoid shaped seeds. The term bean can refer to the pod or seeds. Vicia faba is an annual plant, with the life cycle of one year. It is a cool season crop that is grown in well drained soils. The immature beans are used fresh, as a vegetable, canned or frozen. There are three main varieties of Broad beans such as Longpod, Windsor varieties and Dwarf varieties.
Apart from their taste, it is rich in protein and fiber content. In 100 grams, Broad beans supply 62 calories and are 7.77% carbohydrates, 1.43% total fat and 9.60% protein. Broad beans are exceptional source of nutrients, providing in a 100 gram serving dietary fiber (9.47%), iron (18.75%), manganese (11.35%), phosphorus (10.43%), and vitamins such as folate (14.50%).