FAVA BEANS WITH CUCUMBER BROWN RICE AND RED PEPPER

Hi Everyone,  Here is another simple fava recipe for those of you who love favas like I do.  This one is different from the last one as it has brown rice mixed into it as well as dressing.  Here in Portugal we have been having gorgeous summer weather (even tho it's still spring).  So many things in the garden are just going crazy!  I love to work in my garden and I especially love being able to eat from the garden.  As we are meant to! So here is the recipe.

Dressing

3 T toasted sesame oil

2 T brown rice vinegar

2 T tamari or shoyu

2 cloves garlic

1/2 t grated ginger

1/2 t honey

Place this dressing a medium size bowl  and mix in all the ingredients below.

1/2 kg favas peeled, blanched for 2 minutes and shelled

2 cups cooked brown rice

1/3 cucumber sliced and cut into quarters

1/2  red pepper cut into small pieces

2 T coriander chopped for garnish

Serve cold and enjoy on a warm spring or summer day for lunch or dinner, as a side dish or a main.

Red peppers are very high in vitamin C, B6, K1 and potassium, they also contains vitamin A, vitamin E and folate.  They are so delicious and full of vitamins and minerals.

FAVA BEAN AND RED PEPPER SALAD

Hi Everyone,  Spring is truly sprung here in Portugal.  I am already eating nespera (loquats) and also I just harvested my first fava beans.  They taste amazing.  Here is a new recipe I created with my first of the year.  They are SO delicious and nourishing.  I just ate rather a lot with some gorgeous roasted potatoes.  And my husband liked it too!  So without further ado........

FAVA BEAN AND RED PEPPER SALAD

1 kilo fresh fava beans to shell, blanch and peel

1 red bell pepper

1/2 a cucumber sliced then quartered, semi peeled

10 or more slices of daikon radish julienned

2 cloves garlic crushed and chopped

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1/4 teaspoon grain mustard

chopped coriander to your taste

Shell then blanch the favas by making a large pot of boiling water and dropping in the shelled beans.  cook for 1.5 minutes.  Drain and place into an ice water bath.  This way they will remain a lovely bright green colour.  Drain again and peel.  Add the fava beans to all the other ingredients up until the garlic.  Place garlic in small bowl with both vinegars, then add the mustard and stir, then add the olive oil and whisk.  Place this onto the veggies and beans.  Mix well and serve with some roasted herbed potatoes.

Fava beans are wonderful for our health.  They contain many vitamins and minerals including a high level of protein and fiber.  They are high in potassium, calcium, manganese and folate.