How-To: Prep Fava Beans
Our quick guide to peeling and prepping fresh fava beans!
Ingredients:
1 pound fava beans
Method:
1. Peel: Pull off the top and “unzip” the seam of the bean pod. Open the pod and remove the beans. (There are usually 4 to 5 beans per pod.) The beans have a waxy outer coating, which you’ll need to remove.
2. Prep: Blanch them in boiling water for 30 seconds, and then transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. The waxy coating will slip then right off.
3. Cook: From here, steam the beans until tender in a steamer basket or covered in the microwave, 3-5 minutes.
Here’s to Summer Recipes
Summer is now in full swing, which (hopefully!) means sun-soaked days, leisurely evenings and produce-filled meals on the patio. Fittingly, this week we’ve captured the tastes of early summer, from purple scallions and green and yellow squash to a light and lovely pasta main starring spinach fettuccine, toasted pine nuts, mint and fresh fava beans. Pair this dish with grilled apricots, a beautiful summery salad and Italian Rustica bread, and then sit back and enjoy the flavors of the season.
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
How-To: Prep Fava Beans
Our quick guide to peeling and prepping fresh fava beans for this week’s pasta and dip recipes.
Fava Bean Dip
This simple, fresh dip enhances the inherent nutty flavor of fresh fava beans.
Grilled Bread with Thyme Pesto
A wonderful appetizer to serve this week’s pasta supper!
Fresh Spinach Fettuccine with Fava Beans, Mint & Toasted Pine Nuts
This summery pasta is light, lovely and fragrant with fresh lemon zest and mint.
Grilled Apricots with Almond Whipped Cream
Drizzled with honey and topped with toasted almonds, these apricots are simply stunning for dessert.
Summer’s Here Recipes
It’s now officially summer, which (hopefully!) means sun-soaked days, leisurely evenings and produce-filled meals on the patio. Fittingly, this week we’ve captured the tastes of early summer, from crunchy radishes and baby bok choy to a bright, fresh risotto crafted from our own chicken stock and tossed with sugar snap peas, fava beans, mint, lemon zest and grey sea salt butter from Cherry Valley Dairy. Pair this dish with a glass of French red wine, a beautiful summery salad and grilled Pain au Levain bread, then sit back and enjoy the flavors of the season.
Here are some recipe ideas for the week:
Mojito
The ultimate summer refresher, crafted with fresh mint and lime.
How-To: Prep Fava Beans
Our quick guide to peeling and prepping fresh fava beans for this week’s risotto and dip recipes.
Risotto with Fresh Fava Beans & Sugar Snap Peas
This bright risotto is tossed with mint and lemon zest for extra flavor.
Fava Bean Dip
This simple, fresh dip enhances the inherent nutty flavor of fresh fava beans.
Grilled Bread with Thyme Pesto
A wonderful appetizer to this week’s risotto supper!
Garden Greens with Chopped Eggs
This fresh salad is a lovely use for beautiful summer greens.
Roasted Radishes
Seasoned with fresh thyme and red onions, these buttery radishes are an excellent accompaniment to just about any protein.
Sautéed Turnips & Greens with Garlic
Tossed with flavorful garlic, these turnip greens are incredibly tender thanks to a quick simmer in chicken stock.
