Crostini Of Fava Bean Puree Fresh Ricotta And Morel Mushrooms Food

SPRING PEA AND RICOTTA CROSTINI WITH FAVA BEANS

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of well-salted water to a boil and set up a bowl of well-salted ice water. Drop the peas in the boiling water, let the water return to a boil and cook the peas for 2 minutes. Scoop the peas out of the water and plunge them immediately into the ice water. When the peas are cool, remove them from the ice water and reserve. Repeat this process with the fava beans. When the favas are cool, peel off the tough outer layer and reserve the beans.
• In a food processor, pulse the peas to make a coarse paste. In a large bowl, combine the pea paste, ricotta and parmigiano; mix well, season with kosher salt (about 1/2 teaspoon) and taste to make sure it's delicious. In a separate bowl, toss the favas with the olive oil, mint, lemon zest and a pinch of kosher salt. Set aside.
• Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush both sides of the bread slices with olive oil and grill, flipping, until lightly charred, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Spread about 1 tablespoon of the pea-ricotta mixture onto each crostini. Top with the favas, a final shaving of parmigiano, a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt.

SPRINGTIME MOREL AND FAVA BEAN CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Brush both sides of baguette slices with olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Transfer to oven and bake, turning once, until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove from oven and set aside.
• Melt butter in a medium skillet over high heat; cook until butter is lightly browned. Add morels and shallot and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add sherry to deglaze and cook until almost evaporated. Add cream and let cook until reduced and thickened slightly. Stir in fava beans and ramp leaves or chives.
• Divide morel mixture evenly among toasted baguette slices; top with crumbled bacon and garnish with cheese. Serve.

FRESH FAVA BEANS WITH PECORINO CHEESE

Steps:

• Shell the favas and discard pods. Drop beans into boiling salted water and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Drain and immediately plunge into ice water. Drain again and remove tough outer skin from each bean. Place beans in a bowl.
• Serve with slices of good fresh cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, 1 to 2 drops of lemon juice, freshly ground pepper and a few grains of salt along with a slice of good crusty peasant bread.

SNOW PEA AND RICOTTA CROSTINI

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil; prepare an ice-water bath. Blanch the snow peas for 30 seconds in the boiling water, then transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
• In a medium saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Toast the baguette slices in the pan until golden brown on both sides, about 2 minutes per side; drain on paper towels. Season with salt and pepper. While still warm, rub the sides of the toast with the garlic cloves to season.
• Combine the ricotta and lemon zest and juice in a small mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Divide the ricotta among the toasts.
• Combine the snow peas with the almonds, mint, vinegar, shallots and remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper and divide among the toasts.

MINTED PEA PUREE CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the peas and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Drain, put them into a food processor and pulse until chunky. Add the ricotta and pulse to combine. While the processor is running, pour in the oil in a slow steady stream. Transfer the puree to a serving bowl, then stir in the mint and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Arrange the bread on a lined baking sheet and drizzle with some garlic infused olive oil. Toast in the oven until light golden, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Spread the pea puree over the toasts and serve.

FAVA BEANS AND PEAS WITH MINT, BASIL, LEMON RICOTTA ON CROSTINI FOR ST. JOSEPH'S DAY

Steps:

• Shell the fresh fava beans. Boil them in a pot for 2 minutes on the stove, and then dunk in an ice bath to stop the cooking. You don't want them mushy. Once cooled it is easy to pull off the outer skin to reveal the delicious bright green fava bean inside.
• In a small bowl, grate lemon zest to the Ricotta cheese. Add juice of half lemon, olive oil, salt and black pepper. Mix and refrigerate to chill.
• Saute the garlic, fava beans and peas in a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan on the stove for 2-3 minutes. Add salt, red & black peppers, mint, and basil. Turn off the heat.
• Brush olive oil on both sides of the sliced bread and toast in a grill pan.
• To assemble, place a dollop of the lemon ricotta on a toasted bread slice, top with a tablespoon of fava beans. Garnish with fresh basil/mint.

ARUGULA AND FAVA-BEAN CROSTINI

Steps:

• 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 (if using edamame, don't peel).
• 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 in 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.
• What to drink:
• Fontaleoni Vernaccia di San Gimignano '07

CROSTINI WITH FAVA BEANS AND RICOTTA SALATA

Steps:

• Shell the fava beans and drop them in boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain, then pop the inner bean out of its skin.
• Gently mix the fava beans, cheese, 2 tablespoons olive oil, thyme and lemon zest in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Brush both sides of the bread slices with oil and broil, turning once, until they are golden.
• To serve, top bread slices with fava bean mixture.