The Mediterranean countries include France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal along the north; Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel on the east; the African countries of Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco on the south and the Mediterranean Island Countries of Cyprus and Malta. The Mediterranean countries utilize many of the same healthy ingredients but each country has a unique way of creating recipes with those same ingredients. So far in this series, I have written about Mediterranean cuisine in general and about the cuisine in the countries of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. This series continues with the country of Egypt.
The Arab Republic of Egypt is located in the northeastern region of the African continent, bordering both the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The climate is arid and dry and most of the country receives less than one inch of rainfall each year. However, Egypt’s northern coastline can get up to eight inches of rainfall each year and the year-round temperatures are cooler here than inland. Egypt has no forests and only 2 percent of the land is arable (land that can be farmed).
The well-known Nile River, the longest river in the world, runs north and south through eastern Egypt and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile River Valley, which includes the capital city of Cairo, is the most fertile land in Egypt. Approximately 95 percent of the country’s population lives alongside the Nile River.
Egyptian cuisine is characterized by dishes such as stewed fava beans; lentils and pasta and okra stew. Egyptian cuisine shares similarities with other Mediterranean countries, such as rice-stuffed vegetables, grape leaves, shawarma, kebabs and kofta. The cuisine most often utilizes legumes, vegetables and fruits from Egypt’s rich Nile valley and delta. Although entrees in Alexandria and the coast of Egypt tend to use a great deal of fish and other seafood, the Egyptian cuisine is based on foods that grow in the ground. Meat has been very expensive for most Egyptians throughout history, so a great number of vegetarian dishes have been developed.
Easy access to various spices due to Egypt’s many seaports has, throughout the years, left its mark on Egyptian cuisine. Cumin is the most commonly used spice. Other common spices include coriander, cardamom, chili, aniseed, bay leaves, dill, parsley, ginger, cinnamon, mint and cloves.
Egyptians are known to use lots of garlic and onions in their everyday dishes. Fresh garlic mashed with other herbs is used in a spicy tomato salad and also in stuffed eggplant. Garlic fried with coriander is added to soup and sometimes to chicken or rabbit. Fried onions can also be a popular addition.
When meats are on the Egyptian table, they are usually rabbit, pigeon, chicken or duck. These are often boiled to make a broth for stews and soups and the meat is served separately. Lamb and beef are the most common meats used for grilling.
The local bread is a form of hearty, thick, gluten-rich pita bread called eish baladi. This bread is made from a simple recipe that forms the backbone of the Egyptian cuisine. It is consumed at almost all Egyptian meals; a working-class or rural Egyptian meal might consist of little more than bread and beans.
Although many rural people still make their own cheese, notably the fermented mish, mass-produced cheeses are becoming more common. Cheese is often served with breakfast, it is included in several traditional dishes, and even in some desserts.
Despite the country’s dry climate, Egypt grows a variety of fresh fruits. Mohz (bananas), balah (dates), burtu’aan (oranges), battiikh (melon), khukh (peaches), berkuk (plums) and ‘anub (grapes) are grown.
Tea is the national drink in Egypt, followed only distantly by coffee, prepared using the Turkish method. Egyptian tea is uniformly black and sour and is generally served in a glass, sometimes with milk. Tea packed and sold in Egypt is almost exclusively imported from Kenya and Sri Lanka. Egyptian tea comes in two varieties, kushari and sa‘idi. Vendors also sell a variety of asiir (fresh-squeezed juices) made from fruits like banana, guava, mango, pomegranate, strawberry, from sugar cane, and even hibiscus flowers.
Egyptian desserts resemble other Eastern Mediterranean desserts. Basbousa is a dessert made from semolina and soaked in syrup. It is usually topped with almonds and cut vertically into pieces, so that each piece has a diamond shape. Baqlawa is a sweet dish made from many layers of phyllo pastry with an assortment of nuts and soaked in a sweet syrup. Ghuriyiba is a sweet biscuit made with sugar, flour and liberal quantities of butter, similar to shortbread. It can be topped with roasted almonds or black cardamom pods.
Dining customs vary throughout the country and between different religions. When invited to be a guest in an Egyptian household, it is polite for guests to bring a small gift to the host, such as flowers or chocolate, to show their appreciation for the meal. Before dinner, cocktails (usually nonalcoholic) are frequently served. This is a time for socializing and becoming acquainted. Mezze (salads and dips) would also be served at this time. When dinner is ready, usually between 9 P.M. and 10 P.M. , guests seat themselves and food is placed in the middle of the table. Bread will almost always accompany meals, which may include vegetables, rice dishes, soups and meat dishes. Following dinner, guests will move into another room and enjoy coffee or mint tea. Guests should always compliment the cook.
Although Ramadan is a month of fasting for Muslims in Egypt, it is usually a time when Egyptians pay a lot of attention to food variety and richness, since breaking the fast is a family affair, often with the entire extended families meeting at the table just after sunset. There are several special desserts that are served almost exclusively during Ramadan, such as kunafa and atayef. during the Ramadan month, many Egyptians prepare a special table for the poor or passers-by, usually in a tent in the street, called Ma’edet Rahman which literally translates to “Table of the Merciful”. Observant Christians in Egypt adhere to fasting periods according to the Coptic calendar; these days may extend to more than two-thirds of the year for the most observant. The more secular Coptic population fasts only for Easter and Christmas. The Coptic diet for fasting is essentially vegan. During this fasting, only vegetables and legumes are eaten and all meat and dairy products are avoided.
Egyptian Recipes To Make At Home
Gebna Makleyah (Oven-Fried Cheese)
Serves 4 to 6.
Ingredients
1 cup firm feta cheese, crumbled or traditional Egyptian cheese, such as labna or gebna
1 tablespoon flour
1 egg
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Olive oil
Lemon wedges and pita bread cut into triangles, for serving
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Place the cheese, flour, egg, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well.
Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls.
If the mixture seems too loose to hold the ball shape, add a little more flour.
If the mixture seems too dry, add a bit of lemon juice, vinegar or water.
Pour 2 or 3 tablespoons olive oil onto a cookie sheet to grease.
Arrange the cheese balls on the cookie sheet, rolling them around to coat thoroughly with the oil.
Bake 5 minutes.
Wearing an oven mitt, open the oven door and shake the cookie sheet to prevent the cheese balls from sticking, then turn them over.
Bake 5 more minutes, until golden brown.
Remove with a spatula and drain on absorbent paper.
Serve warm with lemon wedges and triangles of pita bread.
Ful Mudammas (Broad Beans in Sauce)
Serves 4 to 6.
Ingredients
2 cans (15-ounces each) cooked fava beans
6 cloves garlic, or to taste
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
¼ cup olive oil
1½ tablespoons parsley, minced
Garnish, such as radishes, hard-boiled eggs, chopped scallions, pita bread (toasted and cut into wedges)
Directions
Press the garlic cloves through a garlic press into a medium bowl.
Mash the garlic and salt together.
Next, add the lemon juice, olive oil and parsley to the garlic mixture and combine thoroughly.
Drain the beans well, rinse and put the beans into a large pot over low heat.
Add the garlic mixture and stir with a wooden spoon to combine thoroughly.
Serve warm with the garnishes arranged on a platter.
Each person is served a plateful of Ful Mudammas and adds the garnishes of his or her choice.
Koushari (Lentils, Macaroni, Rice, and Chickpeas)
Serves 4 to 6.
Ingredients
1 cup lentils
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup elbow macaroni
1 cup rice
1 can (15-ounces) chickpeas (also called ceci beans)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce
1 cup canned tomato puree
¼ cup olive oil
2 onions
1 garlic clove, or to taste
Directions
To prepare the lentils:
Place the lentils in a sieve and rinse thoroughly. Place them in a large saucepan with 3 cups of water and 1 teaspoon salt.
Heat until the water begins to boil. Lower the heat and simmer for about 1 hour or until the lentils are tender. Drain and set the lentils aside.
To prepare the macaroni:
Fill the same saucepan with water (add salt). Heat until the water begins to boil.
Add the macaroni and boil about 12 to 15 minutes, or until the macaroni is tender. Drain and set the macaroni aside.
To prepare the rice:
Heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the same saucepan. Add the rice and cook for 2 or 3 minutes, thoroughly coating the rice with oil.
Add 2 cups of water and heat until the water begins to boil. Cover the saucepan and simmer until the rice is tender, about 15 minutes.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool for about 5 minutes.
To assemble the koushari:
Drain the chickpeas and rinse them in a colander. Add chickpeas, lentil, and macaroni to the cooked rice and toss very gently with a fork.
To make the sauce:
Peel the onions and cut them in half lengthwise. Slice each half crosswise into thin slices.
Heat ¼ cup olive oil in a skillet. Add the onions and cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon until the onions are golden brown.
Add garlic clove and cook 1 or 2 more minutes. Stir in the tomato puree and heat until bubbly.
Pour the sauce over the lentil mixture and heat over very low heat for about 5 minutes, until completely warm.
Serve with pita bread.
Khoshaf
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 cup dried prunes
1 cup dried apricots
1 cup dried small figs, halved
1½ cups raisins
1 cup sugar, or to taste
2½ cups boiling water
Nuts for garnish
Directions
Place all the fruits in a bowl and mix together gently.
Sprinkle the sugar on top of the dried fruits.
Carefully pour the boiling water into the bowl, cover and allow to cool to room temperature.
Refrigerate for several hours or overnight if possible. ( Khoshaf is best when allowed to marinate overnight or for several hours before serving.) Garnish with nuts and serve.
Beans play an essential role in Italian cooking and, consequently, they are grown throughout the country. From Sicily in the south to Piedmont and Veneto in the north, various regions produce different kinds of beans, all of which are enjoyed by the Italian culture. While many cooks will substitute one white bean for another, each type provides its own individual shape and texture to a given dish.
Borlotti (cranberry beans) is a favorite bean in northern Italy. These red, tan and brown speckled beans turn dark brown on the outside and yellow on the inside when cooked. They add a creamy consistency to any recipe.
The region of Tuscany is famous for Cannellini, white kidney beans, and are simply referred to as fagioli. Other popular Tuscan white beans include sorani, toscanello, corona and schiaccianoci.
Chickpeas (Cece) or Garbanzo Beans are the most widely consumed legume in the world and have been adopted in every region of Italy. The chickpea has a round shape and are beige in color. They have a firm texture with a flavor somewhere between chestnuts and walnuts. Chickpeas can be cooked in soups and stews, added to pasta, eaten cold in salads and ground into a gluten-free flour.
Corona, a large white bean, is a member of the runner family and when cooked, they almost triple in size. This is one reason this hearty bean is often called the “poor man’s meat.”
Fava beans are a staple of Abruzzo, Puglia, Campania, as well as Sicily. A staple of southern Italian cuisine, fava beans are hardy and widely available.
Lentils, or lenticchie, are eaten all across Italy. With their nutty taste, lentils are ideally small and brown. The most select lentils are grown in Umbria, Abruzzo and Sicily. Although lentils do not require soaking previous to cooking, they are best when soaked for about an hour.
With all beans, keep in mind that the fresher the bean, the better it will taste when used in your favorite recipes.
A diet rich in fiber is a great preventative of coronary heart disease and colon cancer. Beans can provide a reduction in serum cholesterol levels and are also thought to prevent diabetes in at-risk individuals. Additionally, beans contain more protein than any other vegetable; some beans even rival chicken or meat in protein content.
Cooking beans at home is a simple way to save money and provide the base for many healthy meals. It requires little effort and they’re easy to keep on hand in the refrigerator or freezer. You can quickly put together soups, salads, dips and spreads.
Basic Directions for Cooking Dried Beans
Makes about 6 cups
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried beans
- 1 yellow onion, quartered
- 2 bay leaves
- Sea salt and ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Spread beans in a single layer on a large sheet tray; pick through to remove and discard any small stones or debris and then rinse well.
Soak the beans using one of these two methods:
Traditional soaking method: In a large bowl, cover beans with 3 inches of cold water, cover and set aside at room temperature for 8 hours or overnight.
Quick soaking method: In a large pot, cover beans with 3 inches of cold water, cover and bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute, remove pot from heat and set aside, covered, for 1 hour.
Drain soaked beans and transfer to a large pot. Cover with 2 inches of cold water, add onion and bay leaves and bring to a boil; skim off and discard any foam on the surface. Reduce heat, cover and simmer, gently stirring occasionally, until beans are tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Drain beans, discard onions and bay leaves and season with salt and pepper.
Beans develop flavor as they cook, but the flavor is subtle. You can boost the flavor of cooked beans by adding aromatic root vegetables, herbs and spices or meat to the pot near the end of cooking—the last 10 to 30 minutes. The flavor of the vegetables, herbs and meat is infused in the water and in turn is drawn into the bean. The conventional wisdom about salting beans is that salt toughens the skins as they cook. So it is best to add salt at the end of the cooking time. Do not add acidic ingredients, like vinegar, tomatoes or tomato juice, as this will slow the cooking process. Instead, add these ingredients after the beans are cooked.
Here are several flavoring options to add near the end of cooking dried beans:
- Sauté separately diced aromatic vegetables—onions, celery, carrots, leeks, celery root, parsnip, garlic–in olive oil until just soft then stir them into the bean pot with about 10 minutes left to cook.
- At the end of cooking, stir in salt and pepper to taste, add a bouquet garni–a few thyme sprigs, parsley stems and two bay leaves tied in kitchen twine–to soak.
- Add a ham hock or a piece of prosciutto to cook with the beans for a deep meaty flavor. Diced bacon or ham steak added to the liquid will also deliver flavor to the beans, as will chunks of beef, pork or lamb.
- When using beans in a soup, you can thicken the soup by transferring a cup or two of the cooked beans and broth to a blender and purée thoroughly. Then return the purée to the cooking pot.
Orecchiette Pasta with Spinach and Beans
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 1 pound orecchiette pasta (small ears)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 12 ounces fresh spinach leaves, chopped
- Salt and pepper
- 3 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 cups cooked cannellini beans, drained
- Parmesan cheese, grated
Directions:
Cook the orecchiette in boiling water for 1-2 minutes less than the recommended cooking time. Drain and do not rinse.
While the pasta is cooking, saute garlic and red pepper flakes in oil in a saute pan for 1-2 minutes. Do not allow garlic to brown. Add spinach, salt and pepper. Saute until the spinach is wilted. Add broth and simmer about 5 minutes. Add beans and drained orecchiette to the broth mixture. Stir to combine and cook 1-2 more minutes. Transfer to a serving dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
TIP: If you under cook pasta by a few minutes and then add it to your soup to finish the cooking time, the pasta will absorb some of the broth and be more flavorful.
Bean and Sausage Stew
4 Servings
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 Italian sausage links, either pork or turkey, cut in half
- 1 cup cooked beans, drained
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced into 1-inch pieces
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 small potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
In a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed 6-quart pot, heat the olive oil over medium high. Brown the sausages on all sides for about 10 minutes and remove onto a plate.
Add the onions to the pot and cook for 5 minutes, until slightly translucent. Add the remaining ingredients.
Bring to a boil, return the sausage to the pot and reduce the heat to medium low.
Cook, partially covered, for about 30 minutes or until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork. Adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper to taste.
Herbed Lentils with Spinach and Tomatoes
Serve with pita bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup lentils
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons diced shallots
- 3 cups baby spinach leaves (about 3 ounces)
- 14 oz. diced tomatoes, slightly drained
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Place the lentils in a pot with the water and let rest one hour. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until the lentils are tender but still retain their shape. Drain any excess water from the lentils and set them aside.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the shallots and cook until they are softened, about 3 minutes. Add the spinach and cook until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, lentils, basil and parsley to the pan and stir to combine. Cook until warmed through. Stir in the lemon juice, salt and pepper and serve.
Beans and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried large white beans (corona), soaked overnight
- 3 ounces Parmesan cheese with rind
- 1 onion, quartered
- 1 head garlic, halved crosswise
- Kosher salt
- 1½ pounds broccoli, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup olive oil, divided
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 4 anchovy fillets packed in oil, drained, finely chopped
- 2 wide strips lemon zest, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
Directions
Drain beans and place in a large heavy pot. Remove the rind from the cheese and add to the beans along with the onion and garlic. Pour in water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, adding water as needed to keep beans submerged, until beans are tender, about 2 hours. Season with salt. Let the beans cool in the liquid. Discard vegetables and Parmesan rind, then drain.
Preheat oven to 450°F. Mix broccoli with ¼ cup oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. Roast, turning occasionally, until tender and lightly charred, 15–20 minutes. Let cool. Finely chop the broccoli.
In a large bowl combine the anchovies, lemon zest, lemon juice, remaining ¼ cup of olive oil and beans. Mix gently. Add the broccoli and season with salt and pepper, if needed. Shave Parmesan cheese over the mixture and serve.
Braised Chicken with Fennel and White Beans
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cut-up whole chicken (about 3 lbs)
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse (kosher or sea) salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 small onion, cut into thin wedges
- 2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 fennel bulb, quartered, cored, thinly sliced
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
- 1 can (28 oz) Italian whole peeled tomatoes, undrained
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
- 2 cups cooked beans
- Chopped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
Directions
In a deep 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken pieces to the skillet; cook 5 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally, until chicken is light golden brown. Remove chicken from skillet to a platter.
Add onion, garlic, fennel and bell pepper to the skillet. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add browned chicken, tomatoes, wine and rosemary. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 20 to 25 minutes, turning chicken once, until chicken is tender.
Stir in beans. Cook uncovered about 5 minutes longer or until sauce is slightly thickened and juice of chicken is clear, when the thickest area reads 165°F on a meat thermometer. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Related articles
- 10 Ways to Cook Beans With Global Flavors (onegreenplanet.org)
- bean eaters (racheleats.wordpress.com)
- How to Cook Dried Beans (Dutch Oven Method) (acouplecooks.com)
Gian Carlo Menotti (1911 – 2007) was an Italian-American composer and librettist. He wrote the classic Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and two dozen other operas intended to appeal to popular taste. He won the Pulitzer Prize for two of them: The Consul (1950) and The Saint of Bleecker Street (1955). “Amahl” was the first opera ever televised, while “The Consul,” “The Medium” and “The Telephone” were produced on Broadway.
Born in Cadegliano-Viconago, Italy, near Lake Maggiore and the Swiss border, Menotti was the sixth of eight children of Alfonso (a coffee merchant) and Ines Menotti. Menotti began writing songs when he was seven years old and at eleven wrote both the libretto and music for his first opera, The Death of Pierrot. He began his formal musical training at the Milan Conservatory in 1923.
Following her husband’s death, Ines Menotti went to Colombia in a futile attempt to salvage the family’s coffee business and, while there, she enrolled Menotti at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music. She returned to Italy after the business failed. Armed with a letter of introduction from the wife of Arturo Toscanini, Gian Carlo studied composition at Curtis under Rosario Scalero. Fellow students at Curtis included Leonard Bernstein and Samuel Barber. Barber became Menotti’s lover and partner in life and in work; with Menotti crafting the libretto for Barber’s most famous opera, Vanessa, which premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in 1958. After graduation, the two men bought a house together in Mount Kisco, New York, which they named “Capricorn” and shared for over forty years.
It was at Curtis that Menotti wrote his first mature opera, Amelia Goes to the Ball (Amelia al Ballo), in his own Italian text. The Island God and The Last Savage were the only other operas he wrote in Italian, the rest being in English. Like Wagner, he wrote the libretti of all his operas. His most successful works were composed in the 1940s and 1950s and he also taught at the Curtis Institute of Music.
Menotti founded the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy in 1958 and its companion festival in Charleston, South Carolina in 1977. Menotti also wrote several ballets and numerous choral works. Notable among these is his cantata, The Death of the Bishop of Brindisi, written in 1963 and the cantata, Landscapes and Remembrances, in 1976 – a descriptive work of Menotti’s memories of America written for the United States Bicentennial. In 1984 Menotti was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor for achievement in the arts and in 1991 he was chosen Musical America’s “Musician of the Year”. In addition to composing operas Menotti directed most productions of his work. He died on February 1, 2007 at the age of 95.
John Corigliano was born in New York to a musical family. His father, John Corigliano Sr., was concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic for 23 years and his mother, Rose Buzen, was an accomplished pianist. Corigliano attended school in Brooklyn and studied composition at Columbia University and at the Manhattan School of Music. Before achieving success as a composer, Corigliano worked as assistant to the producer on the Leonard Bernstein Young People’s Concerts and as a session producer for classical artists such as André Watts.
Most of Corigliano’s work has been for symphony orchestra. He employs a wide variety of styles, sometimes even within the same work, but aims to make his work accessible for a relatively large audience. He has written symphonies, as well as works for string orchestra and wind band. Additionally, Corigliano has written concerts for clarinet, flute, violin, oboe, and piano; film scores; various chamber and solo instrument works and the opera, The Ghosts of Versailles, which enjoyed success at the premiere.
Corigliano first came into prominence in 1964 when, at the age of 26, his Sonata for Violin and Piano (1963) was the only winner of the chamber-music competition of the Spoleto Festival in Italy. Support from Meet the Composer, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation followed, as did important commissions. For the New York Philharmonic he composed, Vocalise (1999), Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra (1977) and Fantasia on an Ostinato (1986). For the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, he wrote Poem in October (1970). For the New York State Council on the Arts, he composed the Oboe Concerto (1975). For flutist James Galway he composed Promenade Overture (1981), as well as the Symphony No. 2 (2001). The National Symphony Orchestra commissioned Corigliano’s evening-length, A Dylan Thomas Trilogy (1960, rev. 1999) and also composed Chiaroscuro, for two pianos. In 2011, Corigliano’s “One Sweet Morning” premiered at Avery Fisher Hall for the New York Philharmonic, a commission commemorating the 10th anniversary of the September 11th Attacks.
Dominick Argento (born 1927) is an American composer, best known for his lyric operatic and choral music. Among his best known pieces are the operas, Postcard from Morocco, Miss Havisham’s Fire, The Masque of Angels, The Aspern Papers, as well as the songs, “Six Elizabethan Songs” and “From the Diary of Virginia Woolf” for which he earned the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1975.
Argento, the son of Sicilian immigrants, grew up in York, Pennsylvania. Upon graduating from high school, he was drafted into the Army and spent some time as a cryptographer. Following his discahrge from the military, Argento studied piano performance at the Peabody Conservatory on the G.I. Bill but, soon after decided, to switch to composition. He earned a bachelor’s degree (1951) and a master’s degree (1953) from Peabody, where his teachers included Nicholas Nabokov, Henry Cowell and Hugo Weisgall. While there, he was briefly the music director of Weisgall’s Hilltop Musical Company, which Weisgall founded as a venue for local composers to present new work. This experience gave Argento broad exposure and experience in the world of new opera. Hilltop’s stage director was writer John Olon-Scrymgeour with whom Argento would later collaborate on many operas.
During this time period he also spent a year in Florence on a Fulbright Fellowship and has called the experience “life-altering.” Argento went on to receive his Ph.D. from the Eastman School of Music. Following completion of this degree, he received a Guggenheim Fellowship and spent another year in Florence. As a student in the 1950s, Argento divided his time between America and Italy and his music is greatly influenced both by his instructors in the United States and his personal affection for Italy, particularly the city of Florence. Many of Argento’s works were written in Florence, where he spends a portion of every year.
He has been a professor (and, more recently, a professor emeritus) at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Argento frequently remarks that he finds that city to be tremendously supportive of his work and that he thinks his musical development would have been impeded had he stayed in the high-pressure music world on the East Coast.
In 1984, the Minnesota Opera commissioned Argento’s opera, Casanova’s Homecoming, with text by the composer. It went on to a well-received run at New York City Opera, where at the insistence of Beverly Sills, it became the first opera performed in New York in English to have English subtitles, to ensure the audience would understand all the jokes. The opera won the 1986 National Institute for Music Theatre Award. Argento was one of the founders of the Center Opera Company (now the Minnesota Opera) and Newsweek Magazine once referred to the Twin Cities as “Argento’s town.” Argento has written fourteen operas as well as major song cycles, orchestral works and choral pieces, many of which were commissioned for and premiered by Minnesota-based artists. He has referred to his wife, the soprano Carolyn Bailey, as his muse, and she was a frequent performer of his works until her death in 2006.
Laura Nyro (1947 – 1997) was an American songwriter, singer and pianist. She achieved critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968) and New York Tendaberry (1969), and had commercial success with artists such as Barbra Streisand and The 5th Dimension recording her songs. Her style was a hybrid of pop, jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, show tunes, rock and soul.
Between 1968 and 1970, a number of artists had hits with her songs: The 5th Dimension with “Blowing Away”, “Wedding Bell Blues”, “Stoned Soul Picnic”, “Sweet Blindness”, “Save the Country” and “Black Patch”. Blood Sweat & Tears and Peter, Paul & Mary with “And When I Die”. Three Dog Night and Maynard Ferguson with “Eli’s Comin'” and Barbra Streisand with “Stoney End”, “Time and Love” and “Hands off the Man”. Nyro’s best-selling single was the recording by Carole King and Gerry Goffin singing, “Up on the Roof”.
Nyro was born in the Bronx, New York, the daughter of Gilda Mirsky Nigro, a bookkeeper, and Louis Nigro, a piano tuner and jazz trumpeter. Laura had a younger brother, Jan Nigro, who has become a well-known children’s musician. As a child, she taught herself piano, read poetry and listened to her mother’s records by Leontyne Price, Billie Holiday and classical composers such as Ravel and Debussy. She composed her first songs at age eight. With her family, she spent summers in the Catskill Mountains, where her father played the trumpet at the resorts.
She attended Manhattan’s High School of Music and Art. While in high school, she sang with a group of friends in subway stations and on street corners. She said, “I would go out singing, as a teenager, to a party or out on the street, because there were harmony groups there and that was one of the joys of my youth.” She also commented: “I was always interested in the social consciousness of certain songs. My mother and grandfather were progressive thinkers, so I felt at home in the peace movement and the women’s movement and that has influenced my music.”
Her father’s work brought him into contact with record company executive, Artie Mogull and his partner Paul Barry, who auditioned Laura in 1966. They became her first managers. She sold her first song “And When I Die” to Peter, Paul and Mary for $5,000 and made her first extended professional appearance, at age 18, singing at the “hungry i” coffeehouse in San Francisco. Mogull negotiated a contract for her and she recorded her debut album, More Than a New Discovery, for the Verve Folkways label. The album provided material for other artists, notably the 5th Dimension and Barbra Streisand.
The new contract allowed Nyro more artistic freedom and control. In 1968, Columbia released Eli and the Thirteenth Confession, her second album. This received high critical praise for the depth and sophistication of the performance and arrangements, which merged pop structure with creative imagery, rich vocals and avant-garde jazz, and is widely considered to be one of her best works. It was followed in 1969 by New York Tendaberry, another highly acclaimed work which cemented Nyro’s artistic credibility. The record’s “Time and Love” and “Save the Country” emerged as two of her most well-regarded and popular songs, sung by other artists.
She had a relationship with singer/songwriter Jackson Browne in 1970 – 1971 but married Vietnam War veteran, David Bianchini, in 1972 after a whirlwind romance and spent the next three years living with him in a small town in Massachusetts. The marriage ended after three years, during which time she grew accustomed to country life as opposed to the city life where she had recorded her first five records. She had one son, Gil Bianchini, also known as musician Gil-T, from a short-lived relationship with a man named Harindra Singh, but gave him the surname of her ex-husband.
In 1975, following the split from Bianchini, Nyro suffered the trauma of the death of her mother from ovarian cancer at the age of 49. In a twist of fate, Nyro was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1996. After the diagnosis, Columbia Records prepared a double-disc CD retrospective of material from her years at the label. Together Columbia Records and Nyro selected the tracks and approved the final project. She lived to see the release of Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro (1997) and was reportedly pleased with the outcome. She died of ovarian cancer in Danbury, Connecticut, on April 8, 1997, at 49, the same age at which the disease had claimed the life of her mother. In 2012, Nyro was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Enrico Nicola “Henry” Mancini (1924 – 1994) was an American composer, conductor and arranger, who is best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards, plus a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. His best-known works include the theme to The Pink Panther film series and the theme to the Peter Gunn television series. Mancini had a long collaboration with the film director Blake Edwards and won numerous Academy Awards for the songs in Edwards films, including “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, “Days of Wine and Roses” and for the score to Victor Victoria.
Mancini was born in the Little Italy neighborhood of Cleveland and was raised near Pittsburgh, in the steel town of West Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. His parents emigrated from the Abruzzo region of Italy. Mancini’s father, Quinto (born in Scanno, Italy) was a steelworker, who made his only child begin piccolo lessons at the age of eight. When Mancini was 12 years old, he began piano lessons. Quinto and Henry played flute together in the Aliquippa Italian immigrant band, “Sons of Italy”. After graduating from high school, Mancini attended the renowned Juilliard School of Music in New York. In 1943, after roughly one year at Juilliard, his studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the United States Army. In 1945, he participated in the liberation of a concentration camp in southern Germany.
In 1946, he became a pianist and arranger for the newly re-formed Glenn Miller Orchestra, led by Tex Beneke and in 1952, Mancini joined the Universal Pictures music department. During the next six years, he contributed music to over 100 movies, most notably The Creature from the Black Lagoon, It Came from Outer Space, Tarantula, This Island Earth, The Glenn Miller Story (for which he received his first Academy Award nomination), The Benny Goodman Story and Orson Welles’ Touch of Evil. During this time, he also wrote some popular songs. His first hit was a single by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians titled, “I Won’t Let You Out of My Heart”.
Mancini left Universal-International to work as an independent composer/arranger in 1958. Soon after, he scored the television series, Peter Gunn, for writer/producer Blake Edwards. This was the beginning of a relationship in which Edwards and Mancini collaborated on 30 films over 35 years. Along with Alex North, Elmer Bernstein, Leith Stevens and Johnny Mandel, Henry Mancini was a pioneer of the inclusion of jazz elements in film and TV scoring at the time. Mancini scored many TV movies, including The Thorn Birds and The Shadow Box. He wrote many television themes, including Mr. Lucky, NBC Mystery Movie, What’s Happening!!, Tic Tac Dough and Once Is Not Enough. In the 1984–85 television season, four series featured original Mancini themes: Newhart, Hotel, Remington Steele and Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
Songs with music by Mancini were staples of the easy listening genre from the 1960s to the 1980s. Mancini recorded over 90 albums, in styles ranging from big band to light classical to pop. Eight of these albums were certified gold by The Recording Industry Association of America. He had a 20-year contract with RCA Records, resulting in 60 commercial record albums that made him a household name among artists of easy-listening music
Mancini died of pancreatic cancer in Los Angeles on June 14, 1994. He was working at the time on the Broadway stage version of Victor/Victoria, which he never saw on stage. Mancini was nominated for an unprecedented 72 Grammy’s, winning 20. Additionally he was nominated for 18 Academy Awards, winning four. He also won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for two Emmys.
Recipe from the Abruzzo Region
The Abruzzo is a wild and craggy region with small fishing hamlets along the Adriatic and pastures in the highlands inland where, until quite recently, shepherds lived with their flocks for much of the year. The cooking is frugal, simple peasant food but wholesome.
Fava Bean Soup with Peas and Artichokes
Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (300 g) fresh fava beans (use frozen; its easier)
- 10 ounces (250 g) freshly shelled or frozen peas (if you buy unshelled, double the weight)
- 4 artichokes, (use defrosted frozen artichoke hearts; its easier)
- 1 shallot
- 2 ounces (50 g) guanciale (cured pork; or use pancetta)
- 4 potatoes, peeled and diced
- A small bunch of parsley, minced
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Hot water
Directions
Prepare the artichokes if using fresh, trimming the tips, slivering them, and eliminating any fuzz there may be in the hearts. Put the pieces in a bowl of acidulated (lemon) water to keep them from discoloring. If using frozen artichokes, just cut in half.
Mince the guanciale or pancetta and the shallot and sauté them in the oil in a large saucepan; when the shallot has become translucent (don’t let it brown), drain the artichokes and add them, together with the diced potatoes.
Cook, stirring, for a couple of minutes, then add the fava beans and peas. Season the pot with salt and pepper and add hot water just to cover. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until the peas and beans are tender. Sprinkle the parsley over the soup , cook it a minute more, and serve.
Recipe from the Lombardy Region
Lombardia is landlocked and, therefore, one might not expect to find much in the way of fish. However, the region does boast Italy’s most important lakes and many waterways. Coregonus lavaretus, or the common European white fish, is one of the more abundant European fresh water fish. White fish are a collection of closely related fish, each of which has adapted to its particular habitat. Those in the major Italian lakes are quite popular because they are carnivorous and therefore don’t have those muddy flavors common to bottom feeders. If you visit Lake Garda, you will find grilled white fish and also White Fsh alla Gardesana, with a sauce that includes capers and can include either tomato or anchovies.
White Fish Filets Gardesana Style
Ingredients:
- 2 European whole white fish (American white fish is quite similar), weighing 1 1/3 pounds (600 g) each and cut into fillets
- 2 ripe plum tomatoes or 2 anchovy filets packed in oil, mashed
- 4 fresh basil leaves
- 3 tablespoons salted capers, rinsed and patted dry
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- The juice of a lemon
- Finely chopped chives, to serve as a garnish
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- Salt to taste
Directions
Set the filets on a plate, drizzle the lemon juice over them and lightly salt them.
If you are including the tomatoes, heat a small pot of water to a boil, blanch them, peel them, seed them, draining away the water they contain and dice them finely.
Finely chop the capers and the basil leaves.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet large enough for the filets to lie flat and cook them for 3-5 minutes over high heat turning them carefully. When they are golden, remove them to a serving platter and keep them warm.
Return the skillet to the heat and add either the diced tomato or the anchovy filets, together with the chopped capers. As soon as the mixture begins to cook add the dry white wine and boil until the sauce is slightly reduced. Spoon it over the fish and serve at once, with the vegetable of choice, or if you want to be traditional, with a fairly soft polenta.
Recipe from the Sicilian Region
Sicily is the only Italian region where pistachio trees are growing and the town of Bronte is the largest producer in the region. Bronte pistachios are preferred for their delicate aroma and their nutty and sweet-sour taste.
Pistachio Cookies
- 5 cups all purpose flour (1 lb)
- Pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- Zest of one lemon
- 1 cup shelled pistachios, coarsely chopped, 5 oz.
- 1 cup sugar, 8 oz.
- 1 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature) ½ lb
- 1 egg
- 3 yolks, lightly beat
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 2 oz. shelled pistachios, finely ground, and granulated sugar for garnish
Directions
Making the dough
Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and cloves. Add the lemon zest and the chopped pistachios.
In an electric mixer bowl, cream the sugar and butter.
Add the flour mixture and the eggs and honey and mix thoroughly.
If mixture is too dry add a few tablespoons of milk.
Do not over mix
Transfer onto a flat floured surface and briefly knead to bring dough together.
Do not handle dough more than necessary.
Over mixing would build up gluten, which is good if you are making pasta or bread however it is incompatible to these cookies whose characteristic is crumbliness.
Divide the dough into 2 parts.
Place each piece on a sheet of wax paper and roll dough into 1 ½” wide log. Wrap it tightly and refrigerate.
Follow the same procedure for the other piece of cookie dough. Refrigerate until dough is firm, at least for 2 hours, or store until ready to use.
Forming the cookies
Take the dough roll out of refrigerator, one log at a time, and use a sharp knife to cut it into ½” disks. Place each disk onto sheet pans lined with parchment paper, about 1 ½ inch apart.
Garnish each cookie with a good pinch of ground pistachios and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
Repeat process with the other log.
Instead of forming logs, you can roll out the dough to ¼” thick and use a cookie cutter, or cut with a sharp knife into any shape; decorate any way you prefer.
Baking the cookies
Bake in batches at 350 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes; bake cookies until they are a light golden brown. Be careful not to overcook these delicate cookies.
Related articles
- Opera by Menotti: The Old Maid and the Thief in the FRINGE WORLD Festival 2014 (loveoperawa.wordpress.com)
- http://jovinacooksitalian.com/2014/01/03/italian-culture-protecting-italian-brands/
- http://jovinacooksitalian.com/2013/12/27/italian-culture-the-art-of-business/
- http://jovinacooksitalian.com/2013/12/13/italian-culture-the-art-of-military-leadership/
- http://jovinacooksitalian.com/2013/12/06/italian-american-culture-the-art-of-inventing/
- http://jovinacooksitalian.com/2013/11/22/italian-culture-the-art-of-public-service/
- http://jovinacooksitalian.com/2013/11/15/italian-culture-the-art-of-educating/
- http://jovinacooksitalian.com/2013/11/08/italian-american-culture-the-art-of-entertainment/
- Italian American Culture – The Art Of Writing(jovinacooksitalian.com)
- http://jovinacooksitalian.com/2013/10/25/italian-culture-the-art-of-fashion/
- http://jovinacooksitalian.com/2013/10/18/italian-culture-the-art-of-sport/
- http://jovinacooksitalian.com/2013/10/11/italian-culture-the-art-of-the-painter/
- http://jovinacooksitalian.com/2013/10/04/italian-cultures-women-of-distinction/
- http://jovinacooksitalian.com/2013/09/27/italian-culture-opera/
- http://jovinacooksitalian.com/2013/09/20/italian-culture-the-art-of-preserving-pork/
Jack’s magic beans that grew overnight into a beanstalk were very probably fava beans or, as the English call them, broad beans. Americans, however, have been slow to appreciate this great tasting vegetable, even though, their flavor is smoother, sweeter and richer than most other beans.
But we may be undergoing a spring awakening.The pale green beans in the big floppy pods have been an early spring food in many countries for centuries. Favas — also known as Windsor beans, English beans, horse beans and pigeon beans — have long been a diet staple in Asia, the Middle East, South America, North Africa and Europe.
These ancient beans are one of the oldest cultivated plants and among the easiest to grow. They were the only beans Europeans ate before they discovered America and all its legumes. Explorers took American beans back to Europe and introduced the fava to America, which never really caught on.
After preparing them, you begin to understand why. This is a labor-intensive process. First, you string and shuck the beans, then parboil them so that the waxy coating can be removed. It is an afternoon event and, for Americans, not a great use of their time.
Unshelled, fresh favas look like giant, bumpy string beans. They are 5 to 7 inches long and lined with padding that looks like cotton batting. You don’t want to buy beans that are bulging out of the pod — which means they are probably old.
The beans have a buttery texture, a slight bitterness and a nutty flavor. Their fresh green color is a welcome sign of spring.
Fresh fava beans are purchased in the shell, so you’ll have to buy a lot more beans than you might think. One pound of un-peeled beans will give you roughly 1/3 cup of favas.
How to get to the bean:
- First, remove the beans from the pods (much like you would when shelling peas) by running a finger up the seam of the pod, splitting it open and removing the beans. There are about 4 to 5 beans per pod.
- At this point you’ll notice that the bean has a thick white skin around it which also needs to be peeled off.
- To remove the second skin, there are two different methods. The first is to make a small slit with a knife along the edge of the bean to pop the bean out of its skin.
- The alternate, and more popular, method is to put the fava beans in boiling salted water to blanch for 30 seconds. Remove the beans from the boiling water and submerge them in ice cold water to stop the cooking process. This step softens the second skin, making it easier to remove.
- With your fingers, squeeze the bean out from its skin.
- Now, you can use the beans as directed in any recipe of your choice.
Fava beans have been a staple of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines for centuries and they are used in appetizers, omelets, salads, soups, dips, pasta dishes and casseroles. Many home cooks like to add favas to minestrone soup and favas can sometimes substitute for garbanzos in falafel patties.
I am most familiar with dried favas, which are greenish-brown and large compared to most beans and flat with a distinctive slim black eye. I often use these because fresh fava beans are not easy to find.
Dried Fava Beans
When You Can’t Find Fresh
Fresh fava beans have a short season, but they’re available in other forms to enjoy all year long.
Peeled frozen beans can be used in place of fresh, with slightly increased cooking times (follow the directions on the label).
Many people are familiar with dried favas and they are often imported from Italy. These are excellent for soup.
Canned or bottled favas are available in most supermarkets, but these tend to be the least favorable way to enjoy these beans. Often, the tough outer skin has not been removed and the beans can be high in sodium. If you use canned or bottled beans, be sure to rinse, drain and peel them, if necessary.
Favas are nutrition superheroes. They are high in fiber and iron and low in sodium and fat. They have no cholesterol but are high in protein.
Fava beans are popular in Italy.
They are often served as a first course spring salad with young sheep’s cheese tossed with olive oil, lemon juice, parsley and a little hot pepper. Next on the menu: could be fresh favas quickly sauteed with seafood and herbs or cooked fava beans pureed with cream and butter. Fava beans can be served simply boiled, mashed and spread on crostini, or added to spring stews and soups. They are often paired with artichokes or other spring vegetables such as peas and morels (mushrooms).
Italians credit the fava bean as a factor in saving Sicilians from starvation. Since then, the fava has been considered good luck. The myth of the fava bean began during the famine in Sicily, where the beans were used as fodder for cattle. To survive, the farmers prepared them for the table. Hence, they considered themselves lucky to have them.
Fava beans play a large role in the Sicilian tradition of the St. Joseph Table. which is held in March to honor the saint. They may be served in a frittata or in garlic sauce during this celebration. When dried, roasted and blessed, they become the very popular “lucky bean.” Legend has it that you will never be broke as long as you carry one. Some people believe that if you keep one in the pantry, there will always be food in the kitchen. The bean is also a symbol of fertility, since it grows well even in poor, rocky soil. Italians would carry a bean from a good crop to ensure a good crop the following year.
Fava Bean Recipes:
Fresh Fava Bean and Pecorino Salad
Fava beans are a spring favorite in southern and central Italy. This salad, adapted from Patricia Wells’, Trattoria, (William Morrow 1993) is popular as a starter or as part of an antipasto spread. If you can only find a hard grating pecorino, use a soft goat cheese. If there are leftovers, saute the beans and cheese with a little oil in a small skillet. They are fragrant and delicious as a warm appetizer.
Makes 8 to 12 servings
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds fresh unshelled fava beans (about 2 cups shelled beans)
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried leaf oregano
- 3 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, snipped with scissors
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red peppers (hot red pepper flakes), or to taste
- 8 ounces soft sheep’s milk cheese such as a pecorino or a soft fresh goat’s milk cheese, cut in small cubes
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions:
Shell and parboil the beans as directed above in how to get at the bean.
In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and toss to blend. Taste for seasoning.
Arugula and Fava-Bean Crostini
8 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 cup shelled fresh fava beans (1 1/4 pounds in pods) or shelled fresh or frozen edamame (soybeans; 3/4 pounds in pods)
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus additional for drizzling
- 1 1/2 cups packed baby arugula (1 1/2 ounces), divided
- 3 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 baguette
- 1 garlic clove, halved crosswise
- 16 mint leaves
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
Cook fava beans in boiling water, uncovered, until tender, 3 to 4 minutes, then drain and transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking. Gently peel off skins.
Pulse fava beans in a food processor until very coarsely chopped, then transfer half of mixture to a large bowl. Add 1/4 cup oil, 1/2 cup arugula, cheese, lemon zest and juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper to favas in processor and purée until smooth. Add to bowl. Coarsely chop remaining cup arugula and gently fold into fava-bean mixture.
Cut 16 diagonal slices (1/3 inch thick) from baguette and put on a 4-sided sheet pan. Drizzle with remaining tablespoon oil. Bake until pale golden and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Rub with cut side of garlic.
Spoon fava-bean mixture onto baguette toasts, then drizzle with oil and top with mint.
Shrimp and Fava Beans with Thyme
Makes 2 entree servings or 4 appetizer servings
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- About 2 ounces firm, salty ham such as prosciutto, cut into tiny dice (about 1/3 cup)
- 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
- 3/4 pound shrimp, shelled and deveined
- 1 pound fresh, unshelled fava beans
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
Shell fava beans according to instructions above.
Heat oil and butter in skillet over moderate heat. Add ham and garlic and toss for a minute. Add shrimp, favas and thyme and toss just until shrimp turn pink.
Sprinkle with pepper and salt. Serve immediately.
Fava Bean and Pasta Soup from Sicily
Serves 4 to 5
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh, young fava beans
- 1½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 ounces pancetta, chopped
- 6 cups cold water
- 1/4 pound linguine or spaghetti, broken into 1½-inch lengths
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Remove the beans from the pods, shell and pick off the little buds that appear on the side of the beans. (See photo above.)
Place the oil and onion in a large saucepan over low heat, cover, and cook for about 5 minutes, until the onion sweats.
Add the pancetta and saute for 8 to 10 minutes, until it begins to color. Add the water and bring to a boil. Add the beans and partially cover. Cook over medium-low heat for 30 to 40 minutes, until the beans are tender. The timing depends on the freshness of the beans.
When the favas are tender, stir in the pasta and cook until the texture is al dente, about 6-8 minutes or so, stirring now and then, to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
Remove from the heat, add basil, mint, parsley and salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
Variation: If fresh fava beans are not to be found, you can use 5 ounces (3/4 cup) dried fava beans instead. Dried fava beans have to be soaked overnight.
To make this soup using dried fava beans, bring the drained, soaked beans and 8 cups water to a boil in a soup kettle; simmer until the beans are tender, about 45 minutes. Drain, reserving the bean cooking liquid; cool the beans. Remove and discard the tough outer skin from the fava beans. Follow the recipe instructions, adding the cooked fava beans and 6 cups of the bean cooking liquid just after adding the pancetta. Bring to a boil, add the pasta and proceed with the recipe instructions.
Poached Chicken Breast with Spring Fava Beans
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fava beans, shelled
- 4 (4-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
- 2 medium leeks, washed well, trimmed and cut into long strips
- 4 fingerling potatoes, cut in half lengthwise
- 4 cups Chicken Stock
- 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano
- 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 4 sprigs fresh oregano for garnish
Directions:
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Prepare a bowl of ice water. Immerse the fava beans in the boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes. Drain and plunge the beans into the ice water for 30 seconds to stop the cooking process. Drain. To remove the fibrous shells from the blanched fava beans, make an incision on one end of the shell with your fingernail, pop the bean out, and discard the shells. Set aside.
Place the chicken breasts, leeks and potatoes into a medium-size pot; add the stock, set over medium heat and bring to a simmer; cook, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the fava beans, parsley and oregano; continue to simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
Remove the chicken from the broth and cut into thin slices. Place equal portions of chicken, beans, leeks and potatoes into 4 serving bowls, pour a little broth over all and drizzle 1 teaspoon lemon juice on each bowl. Garnish with oregano sprigs. Serve immediately.
Related articles
- Fresh Green Fava Beans – A Sustainable Persian Recipe (greenprophet.com)
- New Orleans St. Joseph’s Day and its Magic Beans (newswatch.nationalgeographic.com)
- Cassoulet de Lapin aux Feves (cookinginsens.wordpress.com)
- Buttery fava beans with crispy prosciutto (theglobeandmail.com)
- Fava beans and a nice Chianti not included. (nomallthethings.wordpress.com)
