Fresh Fava Beans With Pecorino Cheese Recipes

FAVA BEANS WITH PECORINO CHEESE

Steps:

• Shell the fava beans from their pods.
• Blanch in a pot of boiling water for 4-5 minutes, drain and place in a ice water bath.
• Remove the tough outer shell on the beans. (The easiest way to do this is to cut a slit along one side and gently squeeze the bean out of it's shell.)
• Prepare your plates by arranging a small nest of baby greens.
• Arrange the fava on top of the greens, then drizzle with the olive oil.
• Season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle on the chopped parsley.
• Shave the Pecorino on top of the prepared beans and serve.

FAVA BEAN AND PECORINO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over medium heat. Set a bowl of salted ice water on the counter. Blanch the fava beans in the boiling water and plunge immediately into the salted ice water. Remove the tough outer casing from the fava bean.
• Combine the fava beans in a large bowl with the onions, escarole, and the pecorino (reserve a couple shavings for garnish). Add some red wine vinegar, some olive oil and salt, to taste. Toss to coat the salad with the dressing.
• Arrange the salad on serving plates and top with the reserved shaved cheese.
• Springtime on a plate!!!!

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