10897 Chopped Fava Bean Crostini with Pecorino 40 mins 30 mins About 20 crostini Wed Apr 16 14:09:00 -0700 2008 Mon Mar 23 17:02:22 -0700 2009 Easy Cal-Med CHOW http://www.chow.com/recipes/10897 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:02:22 GMT With lemon, mint, and black pepper With lemon, mint, and black pepper. This easy hors d’oeuvre is a perfect addition to any springtime party.

What to buy: Look for whole fava bean pods that are not shriveled or brown. The inside of each pod should be lined with white fuzz.

Special equipment: A pastry blender or a potato masher gives the perfect choppy texture to the fava mixture and eliminates the need for a food processor—after all, who wants another piece of equipment to clean?

]]> For the crostini:
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Slice baguette on the bias into about 20 (1/2-inch-thick) pieces, place slices on a baking sheet, and brush lightly with olive oil. Place in the oven and bake until lightly toasted and crisp, about 8 minutes. After removing from the oven, rub cut garlic (if using) on each slice.
For the fava beans:
  1. Remove fava beans from their pods and discard pods. Bring a medium pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add shelled fava beans and cook for 2 minutes; drain in a colander and run cold water over the beans until they are cool.
  2. Peel the light green skin from each bean to reveal two bright green inner halves. Discard skins and place peeled beans in a nonreactive bowl.
  3. Add olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Use a pastry blender or potato masher to mash beans into a coarse, choppy paste. (Alternatively, you can pulse the beans in a food processor.) Fold in sliced mint, taste, and adjust seasoning as necessary.
  4. Top each toast with chopped favas, and garnish with a thin shaving of Pecorino Romano. Drizzle with a few drops of olive oil and grind a little black pepper over each. Serve immediately.
]]> http://www.chow.com/assets/2007/03/crostini_25_290x210.jpg Regan Burns 53 Starter For the crostini::

]]> 1 sweet baguette**

]]> Olive oil, for brushing

]]> 1 medium garlic clove, cut in half (optional)**

]]> For the fava beans::

]]> 101 2 1/2 pounds fava beans in pods

]]> 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for garnish

]]> 43 4 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

]]> 301 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

]]> 305 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

]]> 195 2 teaspoons thinly sliced fresh mint leaves

]]> 1 (2- to 3-ounce) piece Pecorino Romano cheese

]]> 234 on the side 253 toast 867 appetizer 5033 canape 722 spread 793 dip 796 spring 804 simple 752 euro 580 italian 807 starters 318 snack 751 elegant 435 vegetarian 1052 hors d'oeuvres 6074 spring ingredients 2393 regan burns 1619 omnivore 8548 no fuss 23680 affordable 38 budget