Two Easy Dishes You Can Make With Fave Beans
Photo credit: Wikimedia commons
Fave beans or ‘broad beans’ as they are known in other countries, are tantamount to the Mediterranean diet which are currently in season in Italy. They are first accredited to an ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician, Pythagoras, around 500 BC and have been consumed for thousands of years in many diets around the world. We personally love them also for the variety of ways to make them palatable to any tastebuds. Here are two different ways you can consume the fabulous ‘fave.’
Our antipasto choice? Mint and Fave Pesto!
All you need is fresh fave beans, mint, black pepper, olive oil, kosher salt which you can throw into the food processor (put in the oil last after everything is already mixed). Variations include using sliced almonds, lemon juice and of course you’ll need a crusty Tuscan bread for your veggie spread. This is a crowd favorite and for exact amounts please check out Saveur.com.
Our Pasta Choice? Pasta With Ricotta, Nuts and Fave
Ingredients for 4 servings:
200 grams of pasta;
100 grams of fresh ricotta;
200 grams of fresh raw fava beans;
50 grams of shelled walnuts;
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.
Clean the beans by removing the pod, rinse and slicing the top of the skin of each fave. Boil the beans for a few minutes, drain and cool them under running cold water. Once cold, take off the outer skin. Meanwhile, boil water for the pasta.
When the beans are cleaned, take a frying pan, add the olive oil, add the beans and a ladle of the pasta water. Cook for about 10 minutes. Then add the ricotta cheese, melt, and finally add the chopped nuts.
Drain the pasta, transfer it to the pan with the beans and mix the vegetables. Best served hot.
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