| Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 20 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 520 | 16g | 5g | 80g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 7g | 7g | 20g | 0.6g |
One dish that always throws me a comforting, nostalgic feeling is a family recipe of Spaghetti with Fava Beans and Pecorino Romano. This isn’t your typical Spaghetti but, the delicate marriage of flavor between the fava beans and Pecorino Romano is a remarkable treat to your palate. It’s an evolutionary journey I took from my early culinary adventures in my grandparents’ kitchen to the coastal influence of Boston.
Memories in Each Bite
Every time I prepare and consume this dish, it takes me back to those golden days spent with my family, notably my cooking sessions with my Irish grandparents. Their traditional Irish scope of comfort food melded with the New England seafood influence has shaped my culinary vision in more ways than one. I used to marvel at my grandma how a simple but profound change of ingredients could create something so exquisite.
Nutritional Wonder
But what I find myself continually drawn to in this Spaghetti with Fava Beans and Pecorino Romano dish is its compelling nutrition value, seamlessly incorporated into such a delicious ensemble. Not widely known, but fava beans come loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein (Source), adding a health factor to this mouthwatering dish.
It’s no secret that my cooking got an extra warmth after Laura and our baby boy came into my life. Spaghetti with Fava Beans and Pecorino Romano has become our little family’s favorite go-to dinner choice. The magic of it lies within its simplicity and the way how the various ingredients harmonize with each other.
A Versatile Companion
This scrumptious creation also finds a harmonious connection with so many dishes. It readily pairs up with a fresh caprese salad or a hearty beef stew, versatile enough to accompany robust dishes or light bites (Source). After years of experimenting with my culinary delights, it is this recipe that kept on reinvigorating my love for food.
The practice of sharing it with you all is something that brings immeasurable joy to me. Cooking is indeed like love, it should be entered into with abandon or not at all. Love for food and cooking is like love for life, and I look forward to continuing to share it with you through more irresistible recipes like this.
What You’ll Need
- 1 pound of spaghetti
- 2 cups of fresh fava beans
- 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes
- Salt, to taste
- 1/2 cup of Pecorino Romano cheese, grated
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fruit of choice for garnish
Method
Step One
Start by preparing your ingredients. Shell the fava beans and grate the Pecorino Romano cheese. Also, mince the garlic and set aside. Prepare your fruit garnish of choice.
Step Two
In a large pot, bring salted water to a simmer. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, for approximately 8 minutes.
Step Three
Whilst the spaghetti is cooking, heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes.
Step Four
Saute the garlic and red pepper flakes until the garlic is golden brown. Then, add the shelled fava beans to the pan. Stir everything together and cook for about 5 minutes.
Step Five
Once the spaghetti is cooked, reserve some pasta water and drain the rest. Then, add the spaghetti to the pan with the fava beans. Also, add some reserved pasta water if needed to adjust the consistency of your dish.
Step Six
Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Cook everything together for another 2 minutes, so the spaghetti absorbs some flavor from the fava beans and spices.
Step Seven
Finally, sprinkle the spaghetti with Pecorino Romano cheese. Cook for another minute, until the cheese is melted and fully incorporated.
Step Eight
Serve the spaghetti hot, finished with your fruit garnish of choice. Enjoy your meal!
