[ExpatSteve]

FRITTEDDA

There are some weeks in spring, between the end of April and beginning of June, when one can find baby artichokes, fresh peas, fava beans, spring onions and new garlic all at their very best. This is a heavenly way to enjoy them “ensemble,” and is well worth the effort. The dish, and its name, are Sicilian in origin.

6 baby artichokes, no bigger than 2 inches in diameter
2 pounds fava beans (unshelled weight)
1 pound peas (unshelled weight)
2 spring onions, sliced thin
2 cloves new garlic (fresh, meaning the first of this year’s crop)
2 Tbls chopped parsley, flat-leaf variety
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, fruity

Preparation:

For the artichokes, remove the hard outer leaves, then cut off the pointy end, about midway down from the top. Trim the bottoms, then cut artichokes in half. The immature “chokes” are edible.

Shell the fava beans, blanch them for 3-4 minutes, drain and slip them out of their “jackets” when cool enough to handle.

Shell the peas.

In a skillet large enough to accommodate everything later ( one that also has a cover), over medium heat gently cook the sliced spring onions with all the olive oil until just wilted, not colored. Add a cup of water, then the chopped parsley and garlic*, then the artichokes and a pinch of salt and return to a gentle simmer, cover and cook 10 minutes or until almost done. Uncover, add the peas and favas, return to the simmer and cook for 4-6 minutes, uncovered, until the peas are done. Most, but not all, of the water will have evaporated, leaving you with a sauce of mostly olive oil, infused with all the other flavors. Taste for salt, add fresh ground pepper, and serve.

* There is something about the flavor of parsley and garlic that is poached, rather than sautéed that makes all the difference in this dish.

[David]

Oh my Steve! You certainly live in a land of plenty! Sounds superb--and darned healthy too! Sadly my climate doesn't support the same abundance yours does!
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Vivant Linguae Mortuae!!

[Knifethrower]

It sounds like you were hiding in my shopping bag this morning as I strolled the farmer's market... Ahhh, Spring!
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There is only one way to die- With a full stomach and a good tan.

[madameshawshank]

fresh peas...I can taste them looking at those two words!
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"I've never accepted the external appearance of things as the whole truth. The world is much more elaborate than the nerves of our eye can tell us." - James Gleeson