Fresh Fava Beans or Broad Beans with Mint & Garlic | A Simple Sicilian Recipe

Fresh Fava Beans or Broad Beans with Mint & Garlic | A Simple Sicilian Recipe. Today I am making one of my favourite Sicilian side dishes using fresh broad beans picked from Julie's vegetable patch. Known as fava beans in America and broad beans in the UK, they are gently cooked before being dressed with fresh mint, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and a splash of white wine vinegar. I also add a little lemon zest, my own small twist on a traditional recipe that brightens the flavours beautifully. This simple recipe brings back wonderful memories of my childhood in Sicily, where dishes like this often appeared on the table during family gatherings and summer celebrations. It is proof that some of the most memorable food is also the simplest. If you cannot find fresh broad beans, frozen fava beans work very well too. Whether you serve them warm, at room temperature or chilled the following day, this is a delicious Mediterranean side dish that pairs beautifully with grilled fish, barbecued meats or simply some crusty bread. Follow Tortellino: ▶️ YOUTUBE: / @TortellinoTime ▶️ FACEBOOK: / https://www.facebook.com/groups/96920... ▶️ INSTAGRAM: /   / tortellinotortellino   ▶️ TIKTOK: / https://www.tiktok.com/@tortellinotim... Ingredients 250g (9 oz) shelled fresh fava beans (broad beans) 1/2 medium garlic clove A handful of fresh mint leaves 25ml (1½ tbsp) extra virgin olive oil 1 dessert spoon white wine vinegar Salt to taste Freshly ground black pepper (optional) Zest of ½ lemon (optional, my own addition) A small squeeze of lemon juice (optional) Method Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the fava beans for around 10–15 minutes, or until they are tender. The exact time will depend on the size of your beans, so I always taste one of the largest rather than simply watching the clock. While the beans are cooking, finely chop the garlic and fresh mint, then mix them with the extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar and a little salt. It is a wonderfully simple dressing, but the fresh mint and garlic are what give this dish its unmistakable Sicilian character. Once the beans are ready, drain them really well. I like to add the dressing while they are still hot because, in my experience, they absorb the flavours much better and become beautifully fragrant as you toss everything together. If you would like to try my own little twist, finish with a little fresh lemon zest and, if you enjoy it, a few twists of black pepper. The lemon is not traditional, but I think it brings a lovely freshness that works beautifully with the mint. You can enjoy the beans straight away, but if you have the time, let them marinate for at least 30 minutes. Better still, prepare them the day before and keep them in the fridge overnight. That is how they are often enjoyed in Sicily, and by the following day the flavours have come together beautifully. Francesco Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:50 A little piece of Sicily 01:50 Cooking the broad beans 02:20 Childhood memories 03:20 Mint & garlic dressing 04:25 Bringing everything together 05:20 My lemon twist 06:15 Ready to serve #FavaBeans #BroadBeans #tortellino #tortellinotime #SicilianRecipe