Menu
Hodmedod's Wholefoods
0

Free delivery on orders over £40 • Order by 16th December for Christmas

  • Shop
    • Everything
    • Gift vouchers
    • Bundles & Boxes
    • Pulses
      • Beans
      • Peas
      • Lentils & Chickpeas
      • Canned Pulses
    • Grains & Seeds
      • Quinoa
      • Hemp
      • Cereal Grains
      • Seeds
      • Flaked & Puffed Grains
    • Flours
      • Wheat/Cereal Flours
      • Pulse & Seed Flours
    • Mixes & Blends
    • Home Milling
      • Mills
      • Grists
    • Bakery
    • Pasta
    • Snacks & Crackers
      • Roasted Beans, Peas & Seeds
      • Fruit Leathers
      • Nuts
      • Chocolate
    • Spices & Condiments
      • Ferments
      • Spices & Teas
      • Seaweed
      • Sea Salt & Smoked Water
      • Oils, Syrups & Vinegars
    • Oat Drink
    • Books etc
    • Clothing etc
    • Organic
    • Special Offers
  • Recipes
    • Pulses
      • Fava Beans
      • Carlin Peas
      • Marrowfat Peas
      • Whole Yellow/Pink/Blue Peas
      • Split Peas
      • Lentils
      • Chickpeas
    • Flour
      • Wheat Flour
      • Other Cereal Flours
      • Pulse Flours
      • Quinoa Flour
    • Grains & Seeds
      • Quinoa
      • Chia
      • Camelina
      • Wholegrain Cereals
      • Naked Barley
      • Hemp
    • Flaked Cereals
    • Ferments
    • Brazil Nuts
    • Diets
      • Gluten-free
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Cuisines
      • British
      • Mediterranean
      • North African
      • Middle Eastern
      • Asian
      • New World
    • Dishes
      • Baking
      • Hearty
      • Light
      • Salads
      • Soups
  • About
    • Blog
    • Newsletter
    • Our Story
      • Into our second decade
      • What's a Hodmedod?
    • Customer Service
      • Delivery
    • Awards & Certification
    • Trade Sales
    • Work for Us
    • Contact Us
  • Sign in
  • Cart

  • Your Basket is Empty

    Continue
Subtotal £0.00 Tax included and shipping calculated at checkout
View Basket
  •  
  •  
One or more of the items in your cart is a recurring or deferred purchase. By continuing, I agree to the cancellation policy and authorize you to charge my payment method at the prices, frequency and dates listed on this page until my order is fulfilled or I cancel, if permitted.
Express Checkout Options

Free delivery on orders over £40 • Order by 16th December for Christmas

Hodmedod's Wholefoods
  • Shop
    • Everything
    • Gift vouchers
    • Bundles & Boxes
    • Pulses
    • Beans
    • Peas
    • Lentils & Chickpeas
    • Canned Pulses
    • Grains & Seeds
    • Quinoa
    • Hemp
    • Cereal Grains
    • Seeds
    • Flaked & Puffed Grains
    • Flours
    • Wheat/Cereal Flours
    • Pulse & Seed Flours
    • Mixes & Blends
    • Home Milling
    • Mills
    • Grists
    • Bakery
    • Pasta
    • Snacks & Crackers
    • Roasted Beans, Peas & Seeds
    • Fruit Leathers
    • Nuts
    • Chocolate
    • Spices & Condiments
    • Ferments
    • Spices & Teas
    • Seaweed
    • Sea Salt & Smoked Water
    • Oils, Syrups & Vinegars
    • Oat Drink
    • Books etc
    • Clothing etc
    • Organic
    • Special Offers
  • Recipes
    • Pulses
    • Fava Beans
    • Carlin Peas
    • Marrowfat Peas
    • Whole Yellow/Pink/Blue Peas
    • Split Peas
    • Lentils
    • Chickpeas
    • Flour
    • Wheat Flour
    • Other Cereal Flours
    • Pulse Flours
    • Quinoa Flour
    • Grains & Seeds
    • Quinoa
    • Chia
    • Camelina
    • Wholegrain Cereals
    • Naked Barley
    • Hemp
    • Flaked Cereals
    • Ferments
    • Brazil Nuts
    • Diets
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Cuisines
    • British
    • Mediterranean
    • North African
    • Middle Eastern
    • Asian
    • New World
    • Dishes
    • Baking
    • Hearty
    • Light
    • Salads
    • Soups
  • About
    • Blog
    • Newsletter
    • Our Story
    • Into our second decade
    • What's a Hodmedod?
    • Customer Service
    • Delivery
    • Awards & Certification
    • Trade Sales
    • Work for Us
    • Contact Us
  • 0 0

Trending ProductsView All Products

Brazil Nut Praline
Brazil Nut Praline, 42g bar
Radek's Chocolate
£4.50

| /

Wholemeal Sourdough Selection
Wholemeal Sourdough Selection
Hodmedod Bakehouse
£20.95

| /

Close Icon

Sicilian Maccu: Whole Fava Bean Soup

Home   Recipes for Pulses, Grains, Seeds, Flakes, Flour, Ferments...   Sicilian Maccu: Whole Fava Bean Soup
Fava Fava Beans Grains and Seeds Mediterranean Oregano Pulses Soups Split Fava Beans Vegan Vegetarian Whole Fava Beans

by Nick Saltmarsh March 19, 2013

This rich whole fava bean soup is said to have been eaten in almost every Sicilian home since Roman times. It's delicious as a soup but can also be left to set and cut into slices and fried.

This deliciously thick and rich soup of whole fava beans (known as fave in Italian) is traditionally served to celebrate the coming of spring, often marking the feast of St Joseph on the 19th March. The dish is said to take its name from Macchus, a gluttonous character of Roman comedies.

Maccu sets when cool and is also delicious eaten as cold slices or fried in breadcrumbs.

This soup can also be made with split fava beans. Using split fava beans avoids the need for soaking and gives a smoother and creamier texture.

Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 400g Whole Fava Beans or 2 x 400g cans Whole Fava Beans in Water; alternatively use 400g Split Fava Beans

  • 1 leek (optional)

  • 1 onion (optional)

  • 3 cloves garlic

  • 3-4 sprigs fresh oregano or 2 tsp dried oregano

  • 1 bunch fennel leaves (the leafy part of a fennel bulb will do) or 1tsp fennel seeds

  • Olive oil

  • Chilli flakes

  • Salt

  • Black pepper

Method

  1. If using dried Whole Fava Beans, soak the beans overnight, then drain, place in a pan, cover with water or stock and cook until tender – about 20 minutes in a pressure cooker, 60 minutes if boiling.
    If using Canned Whole Fava Beans in Water, simply open the cans, drain and rinse the beans.
    If using dried Split Fava Beans, place the beans in a pan, cover with water or stock and cook until tender - about 15 minutes in a pressure cooker, 45 minutes if boiling.

  2. If you’re using the leek and/or onion, chop and sweat in olive oil while the beans are cooking, then add to the beans.

  3. Chop the fennel (if using leaves) and garlic finely, and remove the oregano leaves from the sprigs.

  4. Add the fennel, oregano and garlic to the beans, and continue to cook for another 20 minutes. Blend thoroughly to break up the beans and other ingredients and give a thick, creamy consistency.

  5. Serve drizzled with olive oil, seasoned with salt and pepper, and sprinkled with a few chilli flakes.

  • Share:


Also in Recipes for Pulses, Grains, Seeds, Flakes, Flour, Ferments...

Pearled Spelt Risotto with Sucseed, Spinach & Butternut Squash
Author: SUCSEED Autumn Spelt SUCSEED Vegetarian Winter
Pearled Spelt Risotto with Sucseed, Spinach & Butternut Squash

December 10, 2025

A creamy, comforting "speltotto" made with British-grown spelt and boosted with the goodness of SUCSEED - earthy, nourishing and full of natural fibre.

Read More

Chewy Spiced Rye, Treacle & Walnut Cookies
Author: Danka Jandric Baking Bran Christmas Rye Rye Flour
Chewy Spiced Rye, Treacle & Walnut Cookies

December 10, 2025

These cookies are quick and easy to make. Rye and treacle give wonderful depth and richness to the flavour, pairing well with the warmth of the spices. The addition of just a bit of wheat bran to the dough adds a nutty flavour, as well as improving the texture through its moisture absorbing properties, making for chewier cookies.

Read More

Spiced Winter Porridge
Author: Orfhlaith Noone Breakfast Christmas oats Winter
Spiced Winter Porridge

December 08, 2025

A few simple additions can transform an everyday bowl of porridge into a special treat. The warming blend of spices makes this breakfast extra cosy and comforting. For an even creamier texture, you can soak the oats in milk overnight, though it’s perfectly delicious made fresh in the morning.

Read More

Follow
Looking for our trade website?
Spill the beans! 

Get in touch at hello@hodmedods.co.uk or 01986 467567

Things sometimes go wrong but we'll always do our best to put it right. Please contact us to let us know if there's any problem with an order.

For further details please see our Terms of Service, Returns, Refunds and Exchanges Policy and Privacy Policy.

Newsletter

Sign up for our latest news, recipes, offers & more…

By signing up, you agree to receive marketing emails. Please see our Privacy Policy for more details.

Registered in England and Wales as Hodmedod Ltd, The Studios, London Road, Brampton, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 8DQ, UK; company number 08151811.

© 2025 Hodmedod's Wholefoods.
Powered by Shopify

American Express Apple Pay Google Pay Maestro Mastercard PayPal Shop Pay Visa