Fettuccine with Fava Beans

Name: Fettuccine with Fava Beans
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 4-6
Ingredients: 2 lb. fresh favas; 1 ⁄ 2 head escarole, white stems broken off and discarded; 1 ⁄ 4 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and sliced; 4 oz. pancetta, chopped; 1 lb. dried fettuccine; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; Grated pecorino romano

Serves
serves 4-6

MAURA MCEVOY

Fresh young fava beans signal the beginning of spring and all its glory. For best results, add hot pasta to fava beans just as they finish cooking.

Ingredients

2 lb. fresh favas
¹⁄₂ head escarole, white stems broken off and discarded
¹⁄₄ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and sliced
4 oz. pancetta, chopped
1 lb. dried fettuccine
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Grated pecorino romano

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Instructions

Step 1

Shell favas, then blanch in boiling salted water for 2 minutes, drain, and slip off skins. (If favas are very young, as they often are in Italy, this step is not necessary.)

Step 2

Wash leaves of escarole, pat dry, and tear into large pieces.

Step 3

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and pancetta, and cook until pancetta begins to brown, about 7 minutes.

Step 4

Meanwhile, begin cooking fettuccine in a large pot of boiling salted water. Add favas and escarole to pancetta, and cook until beans are tender, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

When pasta is al dente, drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water. Add pasta and reserved pasta water to fava mixture. Toss over heat, season with salt and pepper, and add pecorino romano.