Mediterranean Artichoke And Fresh Fava Stew Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN ARTICHOKE STEW

Steps:

• Peel and dice potatoes into 1" or so chunks. Put in a medium (3 quart or so) pot along with the frozen artichokes.
• Drain and rinse the can of chickpeas and add to the pot. Halve the lemon and either squeeze it on a juicer, or pick out as many seeds as possible and squeeze directly into the pot. Add olive oil, spices, and water (you want it to just barely cover the solid ingredients).
• Stir ingredients in pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer.
• Cook for about 20 minutes, either covered or uncovered - if you want it to be soupier, cover the pot, but if you want a lot of the liquid to evaporate and be more like a stew, leave it uncovered. Stir occasionally. You can always cook it longer than 20 minutes if you like your potatoes very soft, and they will absorb more flavor the longer you cook. Really, it is hard to overcook this dish.

FAVA BEAN, PEA, AND ARTICHOKE STEW

Steps:

• Prepare fava beans:
• Blanch beans in a 2-quart pot of boiling water 1 minute, then drain in a sieve and immediately transfer to a bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking. Gently peel off skins (it's not necessary to peel edamame, if using).
• Prepare artichokes:
• Fill a large bowl with 4 cups cold water and squeeze juice from 2 lemon halves into bowl.
• Cut off stem of 1 artichoke and reserve. Cut off top inch of artichoke with a serrated knife. Bend back outer leaves until they snap off close to base, then discard several more layers of leaves in same manner until you reach pale yellow leaves with pale green tips.
• Cut remaining leaves flush with top of artichoke bottom using a paring knife, then quarter bottom. Cut out fuzzy choke and purple leaves with paring knife. Trim dark green fibrous parts from base and side of artichoke, then rub cut surfaces with a remaining lemon half and put artichoke bottom in bowl of acidulated water.
• Trim 1/4 inch from end of reserved stem to expose inner core, then trim sides of stem down to pale inner core (don't worry if remaining stem is very thin). Rub cut surfaces with lemon half and put in bowl of acidulated water. Trim remaining artichokes, including stems, in same manner.
• Prepare stew:
• Drain artichokes and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices, including stems. Cook guanciale and onion in oil in a 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 6 minutes. Add sliced artichokes, fava beans, and remaining ingredients and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 45 minutes.