Fava Bean Crostini With Pecorino Frico Recipes

FAVA BEAN CROSTINI WITH PECORINO FRICO

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Add the fava beans and blanch for 3 to 4 minutes. Drain and place in an ice bath. Peel the skins off the favas; the beans will split into 2 bright green pieces as you pop them out of their skins.
• In a food processor, combine the peeled favas, pecorino, garlic, parsley/mint mixture, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and EVOO. Pulse into a thick spread. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Season with a little flaky sea salt.
• For the frico: mix the 2 cups of pecorino with a tablespoon of flour. Divide the mixture into small piles on a silpat-lined sheet tray. Place in oven until golden and melted together, about 10 minutes. Remove with a spatula.
• Slice your bread into thin slices. Drizzle with good olive oil and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Place in oven until crisp and golden. Serve the spread on the charred small toasts. Place a frico standing up on each crostini.

FRESH FAVA BEANS WITH PECORINO CHEESE

Steps:

• Shell the favas and discard pods. Drop beans into boiling salted water and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Drain and immediately plunge into ice water. Drain again and remove tough outer skin from each bean. Place beans in a bowl.
• Serve with slices of good fresh cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, 1 to 2 drops of lemon juice, freshly ground pepper and a few grains of salt along with a slice of good crusty peasant bread.

PASTA WITH FAVA BEANS & PECORINO ROMANO

Steps:

• Cook beans in large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer beans to large bowl. Reserve water in pot.
• Combine 2 cups beans, 1 cup chopped basil and garlic in processor. Using on/off turns, process until beans are coarsely chopped. Transfer mixture to bowl with whole beans. Add remaining 1 cup basil, olive oil and fresh lemon juice. Stir to blend. Season bean mixture to taste with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in same pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot.
• Stir 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid into bean mixture. Add to pasta. Add 1/3 cup grated pecorino Romano cheese and enough remaining cooking liquid to moisten. Season pasta to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

FAVA BEANS WITH PECORINO

Steps:

• If using fresh fava beans, cook in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until just tender, about 2 minutes. Drain; transfer to a colander set in a bowl of ice water (do not cook frozen beans). Drain and peel beans.
• Toss beans, oil, vinegar, and Pecorino in a medium bowl; season with salt and pepper.
• DO AHEAD: Salad can be made 1 day ahead (add cheese just before serving). Cover and chill.

ARUGULA AND FAVA BEAN CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 with rack in middle.
• Cook fava beans in boiling water, uncovered, until tender, 3-4 minutes.
• Drain and transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking. Gentle peel off skins (Note: if using edamame, don't peel).
• Pulse fava beans in a food processor until very coarsely chopped, then transfer 1/2 of the mixture to a large bowl.
• Add 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup arugula, grated cheese, lemon zest and juice, 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/8 teaspoons pepper to favas in processor.
• Puree till smooth.then add to the bowl.
• Coarsely chop remaining cup arugula and gently fold into fava-bean mixture.
• Cut 16 diagonal slices (1/3" thick) from baguette and put in a 4-sided sheet pan.
• Drizzle with remaining tablespoons oil.
• Bake until pale golden and crisp, 8-10 minute Rub with cut side of garlic.
• Spoon fava bean mixture onto baguette toasts, then drizzle with oil and top with mint.
• Chef Notes: Topping can be made 8 hours ahead and chilled, but eliminate the arugula and fold in before using. Toasts can be made 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.

ARUGULA AND FAVA-BEAN CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Cook fava beans in boiling water, uncovered, until tender, 3 to 4 minutes, then drain and transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking. Gently peel off skins (if using edamame, don't peel).
• Pulse fava beans in a food processor until very coarsely chopped, then transfer half of mixture to a large bowl. Add 1/4 cup oil, 1/2 cup arugula, cheese, lemon zest and juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper to favas in processor and purée until smooth. Add to bowl. Coarsely chop remaining cup arugula and gently fold into fava-bean mixture.
• Cut 16 diagonal slices (1/3 inch thick) from baguette and put in a 4-sided sheet pan. Drizzle with remaining tablespoon oil. Bake until pale golden and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Rub with cut side of garlic.
• Spoon fava-bean mixture onto baguette toasts, then drizzle with oil and top with mint.
• What to drink:
• Fontaleoni Vernaccia di San Gimignano '07