Fava Beans And Pancetta Recipes

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.

FAVA BEANS WITH PANCETTA

Steps:

• Soak the fava beans overnight in water.
• Put beans in a pot with fresh water, with the cloves of garlic, bay leaves, and salt to taste, and bring to a boil.
• When beans are at a full boil, reduce the heat, partially cover, and allow to simmer for 1 to 1-1/2 hours. You will know they are done with they are smooth and tender to the bite. This will take a while, so now would be a good time to start making your main dish.
• When the beans are done, transfer them to a platter to allow them to cool and dry.
• Heat the oil in a fry pan until it is smoking hot, and add the Pancetta (italian bacon) and the sage leaves.
• While the Pancetta is cooking, dredge the beans in the flour, they should be relatively well-coated.
• When the Pancetta is done, leave it in the pan add the beans to the oil a little at a time, forming a single layer on the bottom of the pan. As they fry and become crunchy, remove them to a serving dish. Keep adding the beans until all the beans are fried, then top with the Pancetta and sage leaves.