Topic: Broad beans

[Tin Shed]

As the BB season is just starting .... and I can feel a glut coming along....how about sharing some recipes.
Had the first pickings tonight with pasta [recipe from a River cafe book]

1/2 lb shelled broad beans
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
2 garlic clove, chopped
Chopped parsley
Pasta

Heat 2 tblspns  olive oil, add onion. garlic and parsley and cook gently until soft. Add beans and about 4 fl oz boiling water and cook until beans are cooked. Zap 1/2 beans into a chunky puree and add back to whole beans, add salt and pepper.
Cook pasta and add to bean sauce, mix well and serve with parmesan.

It fed two of us very well!!!!

[PurpleHeather]

Sounds great.

Broad beans simmered gently in one of those tomato sauces (from a tin or jar) meant for pasta are great, gives some colourful  'gravy' for the barbie meat if used as a side dish too. Eat cold as a 'salad' even.
 

[oakmore2]

Broad bean and bacon risotto - yum! :P
Dead easy - fry of the bacon with some onion. Add risotto rice, then slowly start adding vegetable stock until the rice has cooked. Blanch the broad beans (I like them hardly cooked), then once the rice is ready stir the beans in along with a small handful of parmesan and a tablespoon of creme fraiche, season. Delicious!
Sorry - don't know quantities as make it up each time.

[katynewbie]

Mmmmm sounds delish! Thanks oakmore!

[Sinbad7]

So, can you have broad beans cold in a salad?  Would you put some kind of dressing on them?

Sinbad

[Trevor_D]

I cleared the last of the over-wintered Aqualdulce yesterday. Didn't quite have enough for a full serving, so cooked them and added them to a Spanish omelette, along with potatoes, onion, mushrooms & peppers (and plenty of basil). Very nice!

[glosterwomble]

So, can you have broad beans cold in a salad?  Would you put some kind of dressing on them?

Sinbad

YES!! They're bloomin lovely like that too! A handful of mint chopped finely, a dressing made from white wine vinegar and olive oil. Boil the beans for around 3-5 mins (take inner skin off at this point if wanted) mix into the mint and dressing and crumble some feta cheese over and toss. Serve slightly warm or leave to cool. Obviously you can just make a mixed salad with some par-boiled beans and a bit of dressing.
LOVELY!  ;D

[Sinbad7]

Many thanks glosterwomble, I always have probs with the quanties for the dressings of anything I try to make for salad ;D

The recipe sounds good, will be trying that.

Sinbad

[KathrynH]

Try skinned broad beans with the mint, salad dressing and crumbled feta mix stired into small roast potatoes for something a bit more substantial, lovely with lamb chops.

[syrahsuzie]

That sounds good - I love feta cheese.

I make a salad with the cooked BB , chopped spring onion and parsley, lots of salad leaves and bits of fried bacon, all with a oil and vinegar dressing.  Very tasty

[Rosebank]

Try the growing tips of the broad beans chopped up in an omlette - delicious.

[valmarg]

Rosebank, do you have any other recipes for broad bean tips (not a big omelette fan) ;D

OH keeps rattling on about how we should use them (thankfully black fly free).

It does seem a shame to waste them.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

valmarg

[Rosebank]

Sorry that is the only one I have.  Just learned about the omlette recipe this week and as hubby is a keen omlette fan tried it and also put some of his parsnip thinnings in.  He said it was the best omlette he had ever had.

[valmarg]

Thanks Rosebank.  Shall give it a try.  It seems such a waste to wast them. ;D

valmarg

[mc55]

we had some in a lovely salad last night: 

slice & roast a pepper.  Roast some tomatoes (best you can find).  Drain a can of chick peas.  Pod & briefly boil broad beans - drain & remove skins.  Boil a couple of eggs & quarter.  Put some spinach into a (large) bowl, then add all the ingredients and 'toss' lightly.  Tear up some mozzarella if you have some.  Drizzle the oil / juice from the peppers & tomatoes over the top.  Serve with fresh bread (and roasted artichokes if you are lucky enough to have them).  Enjoy!  Yum, yum, yum.

[Doris_Pinks]

Valmarg, you can steam the tips and eat them like spinach...................not tried it meself yet though!

[valmarg]

Thanks D_P, will give it a go, and let you know how we get on.

valmarg