“…some fava beans and a nice chianti.”
Cooking question for you: I bought some fresh fava beans at the market today. I thought I could just boil them like lima beans, but they have this tough shell sort of thing around the pod. What am I supposed to do with this…do I peel them? It is rare that a vegetable stumps me so.
p.s. I did try googling fava beans, and all I got back was a bunch of Hannibal Lecter references.
Emilily, 
Carmen, and 
Ma are discussing.
Carmen 8:33 pm on September 12, 2009 Permalink
yes, you get the bean out of the shell, well first you take it out of the pod and then out of the shell. Just clip an end with your thumb fingernail and pop it out (very satisfying). Thats the good part, taking care not to cook too long or they will be kind of powdery consistency. My favorite dish with fava beans is very simple – just the beans, julienned jicama, cilantro, mixed with lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Its pretty flippin delicious. And you can always put some slices of tangerine in there too. A very summery dish. Good luck!
Carmen 8:38 am on September 13, 2009 Permalink
Its really good with apples too (instead of jicama).
Ma 2:07 pm on September 13, 2009 Permalink
Really girls? A summery dish after Labor Day? What would Ann Landers say about that?
Carmen 12:18 pm on September 14, 2009 Permalink
I know, we’re so uncouth. But I’m curious now – how did it turn out Em?
Emilily 1:19 pm on September 14, 2009 Permalink
It was good! I do think I over-cooked the fava beans, though, since I cooked them in the shell and boiled them a little longer than necessary, thinking the shell might soften. But the flavor was really nice, I will probably try again next week!
It is hard for me to transition into a fall menu when it is in the mid-80′s all day. Summer produce, like snap peas and strawberries, are still in season at our farmers’ market!