Garganelli Pasta With Fava Beans Recipes

GARGANELLI PASTA WITH FAVA BEANS

Steps:

• To prepare the fava beans, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Shell the beans and parboil for 30 to 40 seconds. Plunge the favas into ice water to stop the cooking. Pop each bean out of its outer skin by pinching with thumb and forefinger; you may have to slit the outer skin with a knife if the beans are mature. (You should have about 3 cups.)
• Bring another pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta in the salted water until it is al dente.
• While the pasta is cooking, prepare the fava-bean ragout. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over moderate heat. Add the fava beans, onion, garlic, rosemary and savory and season generously with salt and pepper. Gently cook the mixture until the onions are soft and the fava beans are tender, about 5 minutes. Do not let the vegetables brown much; add a splash of water as needed. The ragout should be a bit moist by the end of cooking.
• Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of the cooking water. Return the pasta to the pot and add the fava-bean ragout. Stir over low heat until the pasta is thoroughly coated, adding a bit of the reserved water if the mixture seems dry. Add lemon juice and taste for seasoning.
• Transfer the pasta to a warmed bowl. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley. Use a sharp vegetable peeler to cut shavings of the ricotta salata over the top. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil.

HERBED FAVA BEANS WITH PASTA

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fava beans and cook 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to the ice water; let cool about 5 minutes (keep the pot of water boiling). Drain the beans, then peel off their skins (they should slip right off). Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook as the label directs. Reserve about 1 1/2 cups cooking water, then drain the pasta.
• Heat the olive oil, garlic, mint sprigs, parsley sprigs and all but 2 tablespoons of the scallions in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until the scallions are soft, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the favas and 1 cup of the reserved cooking water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the favas are tender and the liquid is slightly reduced, 8 to 10 minutes; discard the garlic and herb sprigs.
• Add the pasta to the skillet and cook, tossing until it absorbs some of the sauce, about 3 minutes. Stir in the butter, chopped mint and parsley, reserved scallions, and salt and pepper to taste. Add more cooking water to loosen, if needed. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Tip: If you can't find fresh fava beans, use frozen shelled and skinned ones and blanch as directed.

GARGANELLI WITH RAGù ANTICA

Steps:

• In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrot and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add tomatoes one at a time, crushing them by hand, and adding any juice from the can. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and reduce heat to low.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef, pork, veal and chicken livers, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook, breaking the pieces with a wooden spoon, until the meat is no longer pink, about 7 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the meat to the sauce. Add rosemary, sage, bay leaves and Parmigiano rind, if using. Cover, and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Discard rosemary, sage, bay leaves and cheese rind. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling, lightly salted water until al dente (about 2 minutes for fresh pasta, or follow manufacturer's directions for dried), then drain well. Divide the pasta among four plates or bowls, and top with ragù.

PASTA WITH FAVAS, SHRIMP, AND FRESH CHILE

Steps:

• Prepare an ice-water bath. Remove favas from outer pods and cook in a pot of salted boiling water until they float, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to ice-water bath; drain. Pinch tops of favas and squeeze out bright-green beans; you should have about 1 1/4 cups. (Blanched beans can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 days, or frozen up to 3 months.)
• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, about 2 minutes for fresh, 8 to 10 minutes for dried. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, in a large straight-sided skillet, heat pancetta with 1 tablespoon oil over medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add fava beans and stir to coat; season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat; using a slotted spoon, transfer pancetta and beans to a bowl.
• Return skillet to medium-high heat and swirl in remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add garlic and cook until just fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add shrimp and cook, flipping once, until garlic is golden and shrimp curl and just turn opaque, about 2 minutes (they will continue to cook as they mix with the hot pasta).
• Stir in sliced chile and fava-pancetta mixture. Add cooked pasta and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water to skillet and cook, stirring vigorously, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat; add more pasta water, a spoonful at a time, and drizzle in a bit more oil if needed to create a silky sauce. Squeeze lemon over top and season to taste; serve immediately.