Fava, Feta & Olio
2-3 pounds fresh fava beans
small good feta cheese
chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
sea salt
freshly ground pepper
extra virgin olive oil
shell and blanch favas for about 1 minute
place in to ice bath
pop out of skins
Toss everything together and let marinate for a few minutes. Serve with a yummy nutty bread or olive loaf.
Pasta with Fresh Fava Bean Sauce
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1-1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano
1-1/2 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
salt and freshly ground pepper
2 cups cooked, peeled fava beans
3/4 pound dried fettuccine
4 oz. piece pecorino cheese or Parmesan cheese
1. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until hot. Add the garlic and saute briefly until light brown. Stir in the oregano, then add 1 cup of the stock. Bring to a boil, season with salt and pepper, and add 1-1/2 cups of the fava beans. Simmer to blend the flavors, about 3 minutes.
2. Scrape into a blender container and puree with the remaining 1/2 cup stock until smooth. Return the sauce to the pan and add the remaining 1/2 cup favas. Simmer gently and taste for seasoning. Add salt and especially pepper.
3. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 12 minutes. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Pour the pasta into a warm serving bowl and add the sauce. Toss well and thin with the pasta water, if necessary, until the sauce is glossy and not sticky. Serve immediately and grate the cheese over the top at the table.
4. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the pasta. Just before serving, ladle a little hot pasta water into the bowl for a couple minutes to warm it up. Drain the water before filling the bowl with the pasta.
Melange of Artichokes, Fava Beans and Green Garlic
Juice of 1 lemon, or 1 tablespoon vinegar
16 very small artichokes (about 2 ounces each), or 6 medium
artichokes
2 to 2 1/2 pounds young fava beans (about 2 cups shelled)
1/2 cup olive oil
6 to 8 green garlic stalks, cut into 2-inch lengths
2 tablespoons chopped fresh winter savory
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1. Fill a large bowl with water and add the lemon juice or vinegar.
2. Trim the stem end and cut off the top 1 to 1 1/2 inches of each artichoke, depending upon size. Peel away and discard the outer dark-green leaves until you reach the pale-yellow, tender inner leaves. Cut the artichokes in half, from stem to top, and remove any bits of furry choke. Cut the halves in half again lengthwise; drop the pieces into the water.
3. Shell the fava beans. Because some people are allergic to the skins of the fava beans and because they are somewhat tough, you may want to peel the skins away, too. They are easily popped off by slitting the skin with the tip of a sharp knife or your thumbnail.
4. Heat the olive oil in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat.
5. Drain the artichoke pieces and dry them. Add them to the pan and saute for 3 or 4 minutes. Add the fava beans and the garlic and cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. The artichokes will begin to change color to deep olive green; the favas, if peeled, will be bright green. Add the fresh herbs and the salt and pepper. Stir well, reduce heat to very low, cover and simmer until the artichokes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
I love fava beans! Mine are coming in well. I can hardly wait!