Fettuccine with Fresh Fava Beans and Fresh Peas

Quick Pasta Recipe with Spring Vegetables

© Liliana Tommasini

May 21, 2009

Fava beans and peas are spring vegetables that grow when the weather is cool to warm. The fava bean and pea season is short lived so they should be bought as soon as they become available at the famers’ markets.

How to Buy Fava Beans and Peas:

• Fava bean pods should be firm, fresh and unblemished.
• Pea pods should be fresh, green, medium sized and unblemished.

How to Store Fava Beans and Peas:

• Store fava bean pods in a plastic bag in refrigerator up to five days.
• Store the unwashed pea pods in a peforated plastic bag in refrigerator for a few days.

How to Shell Fava Beans Pods:

• Snap off the end of the fava bean pod and pull down the string.
• Remove all the fava beans from the pod.
• Blanch the fava the beans in salted boiled water for about 2 minutes.
• Drain fava beans.
• Add the fava beans to medium size bowl and add cold water.
• Let cool for about 5 minutes and drain again.
• The fava beans have to be shelled once more time.
• Break off the top of the outer shell.
• Pull back the shell and pop out the fava bean.
• The twice shelled fava beans are a bright green.

How to Shell the Pea Pods:

• Tear off the stem and pull down the string down the length of the pod.
• Push out the peas out of the pod into bowl.
• Rise peas well under cold water.

How to Measure Fava Beans and Peas:

• 2 1/2 pounds fava bean pods = 1 pound shelled fava (3 cups)
• 3/4 pound peeled fava beans = 1 cup peeled fava beans

• 2 pounds pea pods = 2 1/2 cups of fresh peas
• 4 pounds pea pods = 5 cups of fresh peas

Fettucine with Fresh Fava Beans and Fresh Peas Recipe

Serves 4 (first course dishes)

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cups fresh peeled fava beans
• 2 ½ cups fresh peas
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 oz. pancetta, chopped
• salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
• ¼ tsp hot pepper flakes
• 1 pound fresh fettucine
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated

How to Make Fettuccine with Fresh Fava Beans and Fresh Peas:

1. Bring large pot of water to boil.
2. Heat extra virgin olive oil in medium size pan.
3. Add chopped onion and chopped pancetta.
4. Cook for about 5 minutes or until pancetta starts to brown.
5. Once water is boiling add the 1 teaspoon of salt and start cooking fettuccine.
6. Meanwhile, add the fava beans and the peas to the pancetta and onion mixture.
7. Cook until the beans are tender.
8. When the fettuccine is ‘al dente’, drain reserving about 1 cup of pasta water.
9. Add the fettuccine to the fava bean and pea mixture along with the reserved cup of pasta water.
10. Season with fresh ground pepper, salt and pepper flakes.
11. Top with the grated Parmigiano Reggiano chese and toss to mix well.
12. Serve hot.

Spring Recipes

Spinach and Ricotta Savoury Egg Squares and Zucchini Leek Frittata are two dishes that are perfect to add to a brunch or luncheon menu.

Fettuccine with Fresh Fava Beans and Fresh Peas

Fresh Homemade Fettuccine

Fresh Shelled Fava Beans

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