Preparation times: 20 - 30 minutes
difficulty: low
FAVA BEAN AND ALMOND PESTO RECIPE
In addition to pesto genovese, where the protagonist is the basil, Ligurian cuisine offers another classic dish, the broad bean pesto, scented with mint.
Il broad bean and almond pesto It's a slightly richer, more appetizing version: a simple preparation, whose goodness is based on the sweetness and freshness of the ingredients.
ALSO READ: Pasta with Trapani-style pesto: a Sicilian specialty recipe with basil and almonds.
FAVA BEAN AND ALMOND PESTO
Fava bean and almond pesto can be made year-round: during fava bean season, we'll use fresh, tender beans; at other times of year, we'll replace them with frozen ones. The recipes vary slightly, but the result is always excellent.
Ingredients for 4 people
- 250 grams of broad beans, shelled
- 4 heaped tablespoons of grated Parmigiano Reggiano
- About 60 grams of almonds
- 6 fresh mint leaves
- 5 – 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Preparation
- Place the blender blades in the freezer.
- Shell the broad beans and rinse them or, if they are frozen, boil them for a few minutes until tender, then cool them under cold water.
- Clean the mint leaves and chop them with a ceramic knife, so as not to oxidize them.
- Toast the almonds in a pan over low heat for a few minutes, stirring constantly: they burn very easily.
- Transfer the almonds in the blender and blend them, not too finely.
- Replace the blended almonds with the broad beans, grated Parmesan cheese, and oil in the blender, and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour it into a bowl, add the chopped almonds and chopped mint.
- Season with salt, pepper, and possibly add a little more oil to taste.
- The fava bean and almond pesto is ready to season pasta or enrich croutons.
An advice
In the season of fresh broad beans, let's try not to waste them podsWell washed, they can be breaded and fried, or in the "vegetable cream soup” cooked in a pot with two or three potatoes, and then blended.
Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date. Click here!
Homemade Pesto: Three Must-Try Recipes
- Pistachio pesto: the original recipe and those with walnuts and almonds.
- Eggplant pesto: the recipe with almonds, to be enjoyed with pasta or croutons
- Arugula pesto: the recipe for making it with walnuts. It's excellent with pasta and grilled vegetables.
Want to see a selection of our news?
- Sign up to our newsletter clicking here;
- We are also up Google News , activate the star to add us to your favorite sources;
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram e Pinterest.