Stir-Fried Fava Beans with Beef

Why people make this dish

Beans carry B vitamins — including B6, B9 and B12 — that are traditionally associated with supporting the brain and slowing the natural fade of memory, and fava beans are especially rich in them. When fresh fava beans come into season, it is well worth picking some up: paired with beef in a quick stir-fry, this is a warming, savoury dish the whole family can enjoy.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Older adults and families wanting a nourishing everyday dish; also suits people prone to high blood pressure or water retention
• Pregnant women may eat fava beans
• Must be avoided by children (or anyone) with favism / G6PD deficiency

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Fava bean (can dou): rich in B-group vitamins; traditionally said to support the middle, strengthen the spleen, drain damp and firm the bowels.
• Beef (niu rou): a warming, strengthening protein that pairs well with the beans.
• Carrot (hong luo bo): adds colour, sweetness and vitamins.

Ingredients (2-3 servings)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Fresh fava beans (can dou)	~225 g	Shelled (peel the inner skin for stir-frying)
Beef tenderloin (niu liu)	~225 g	Sliced
Carrot (hong luo bo)	1 small piece	Cut into decorative slices
Minced garlic (suan rong)	to taste
Spring onion (cong hua)	to taste
Seasoning	to taste	Oil, light soy, splash of wine

Method

1. Shell and skin the fava beans. Slice the beef and marinate briefly with a little seasoning. Cut the carrot into slices.
2. Heat oil and stir-fry the beef until about 70% cooked, then lift it out.
3. With a little oil left in the wok, fry the garlic until fragrant, add the carrot, then the fava beans, and stir-fry until aromatic.
4. Return the beef, splash in the wine, season, scatter in the spring onion, toss a few times and plate up.

Bro Niu’s tips

For soups, keep the bean skins on — the benefit is greater. For stir-frying, peel the skins off for a better texture. Remember: this dish is not for anyone with favism.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Tai): Bro Niu, can pregnant women eat fava beans? Bro Niu: Yes, pregnant women may eat fava beans.
• Q (Cat): My grandmother’s memory has slipped a lot lately, though she is otherwise well. Can I use pork instead of beef? Any soups or food therapy? Do walnuts help? Bro Niu: For age-related memory decline, eat more walnuts, longan flesh, enoki mushrooms, dried oysters, and all kinds of beans and bean products — they support the brain. Three or four plain walnut halves a day is ideal. Soups like century-egg-and-dried-oyster congee, or peanut-longan-red-date-lean-pork soup, are also good. Amounts are flexible; the whole family can have them.
• Q (Joyce): Where can I buy fresh fava beans, and is there anything to ease rheumatoid arthritis? Bro Niu: Fresh fava beans in the pod are available at Chinese or Asian grocers, or online. For rheumatoid joint discomfort, try 1 tael green-kernel black beans, 1 tael Job’s tears, 5 qian mulberry twig and 6 red dates, simmered from 5 bowls of water down to 2.

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Published April 7, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.