Hold a broad bean pod in your hand. Press your thumb into the seam (the little line you can see running down the bean) at the top.

Run your thumb down the seam to open the pod up. Pluck the beans out.

Taste a bean. If you’re not a fan of the white coating around each bean, cook the beans for 2 mins in boiling water. Drain. Rinse under cold water.

Once the white skins on the beans start to wrinkle, use your fingernail on your thumb to gently strip it away from the bean. This takes a little time but gives you the most deliciously sweet broad beans.

Add the broad beans to your pasta during the last minute or two of cooking.

Did you know? The Italians call broad beans ‘Fava Beans’. In Italy, they are a symbol of good luck. Some people even carry beans around with them, like a lucky penny.