Fava Purée

By blum099

Ingredients

• Salt
• 1 1⁄2 lbs. shelled fresh favas (4–5 cups) from 5–6 lbs.
• unshelled favas
• 4 –6 tbsp. fruity extra-virgin olive oil
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 ⁄2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• 15 –20 thin slices crisp, toasted baguette (optional)
• 8 –10 leaves fresh mint, sliced into thin ribbons
• (optional)
• 15 –20 shavings pecorino (optional)

Details

Servings 2

Preparation

Step 1

1. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add favas and cook until bright green, 1–2 minutes. Drain favas, rinse under cold running water, and drain again. Peel favas (see Getting to the Good Part of Favas: Favas take work (the younger ones, with thinner pods, are the most difficult), but these basic techniques help make the task manageable.
1. Pinch off stem and pull away string along seam of pod.
2. Run your thumbnail down seam, pry shell open, and remove beans.
3. To slip beans out of their skins, blanch them for 30 seconds or so, cool them in cold water, hold bean on grooved side, and pinch to slip out bean.) and discard skins.
2. Heat 4 tbsp. of the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add favas and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often and adding a little water to keep beans moist, if necessary, until favas are tender, about 5 minutes.
3. Purée favas in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and season to taste with lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
4. To serve fava purée on toasted baguette slices, brush toasts with remaining olive oil, then spread with some purée. Garnish fava purée with mint and/or pecorino, if you like.