This is a dish that I first had several years back when on holidays on the southern coast of Tuscany (at the seaside). Its wonderful and will surely get that Italian in you smiling !
YOU'LL NEED:
(serves four)
- 2 lbs (1 kilo) fava beans (broad beans)
- water to taste
- salt to taste
- 1/2 yellow onion cut into big chunks
- wild fennel fronds
- olive oil to taste
- frying oil (I prefer sunflower)
- dried chili pepper flakes
PREPARATION:
- Soak the dried fava beans in a bowl of water overnight.
- Next day, cook the beans, onion chunks and fennel fronds in a pot of boiling salted water for 2 hours or until they become soft and almost a puree.
- Drain off any remaining liquid and pass through a sieve. Transfer the puree to a well greased flat surface.
- Using a rolling pin, spread out the puree until 3/4 inch thick. Allow to cool then cut into strips.
- next, the "panelle" must be deep fried in a pan of hot oil. Make sure that the fritters are completely covered in oil and flip during cooking so they are uniform in color.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and put on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil and then sprinkle with crushed chili peppers.
Serve hot and ENJOY !
I make fava bean fritters without cooking the beans between soaking them overnight and frying them. I think they're wonderful. Here's my version: http://omnivorevegetarian.blogspot.com/2012/06/monthly-cooking-adventure-falafel-fava.html
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