Recipes

Fava Bean Hummus

Mitchell Davis

James Beard Foundation, NYC

A light, creamy alternative to the usual chickpea-based hummus. Serve with toasted pita and delicious cocktails.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried, split fava beans
  • 1 shallot, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic
  • Kosher salt
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon (2 tablespoons)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

Method

Place the fava beans in a small saucepan and cover with about 4 cups of cold water. Add the shallot, garlic, and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat, and simmer for about 40 minutes or until the beans are falling apart. Cool to room temperature. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Transfer the beans and garlic to a food processor. Add the lemon juice, cumin, cayenne, and pepper to taste, and purée until very smooth. With the machine running, add the olive oil in a slow, steady drizzle. Don't worry if the texture is soupy; the purée will stiffen as it chills. Once chilled, stir in the chopped mint and adjust the seasoning.

Yield

6 to 8 servings