Monday, May 24, 2010

Fava bean, Kale, Spinach and Dandelion Green Cavatelli

Fava Bean Cavatelli

A while ago, Belle began to start her requests to me with “don’t say no, Mommy.” Clearly, I had formed a reputation, and by three year old standards, it wasn’t good. I am going to blame my overly strict ways on series of factors--a naturally bossy demeanor, a past career as an educator, and a fear of my children ending up on any episode of Wild On, Intervention or Price is Right. (Even if I am from Cleveland, its not like I want my gals, jumping up and down, braless in front of Drew Carey. Or maybe, I am getting Wild on and Price is Right confused.)

Nonetheless, we have started a new calmer, gentler mommy administration here. Some rules are still in strong effect—no pulling, kicking and biting. The rest we are trying to let slide. All that discipline sometimes gets in the way of being with your child.
Fava Bean Cavatelli
Fava Bean Cavatelli
Tonight fava beans needed to be shelled. Frankly, the whole procedure can be a bit of bore coupled with a back ache. As we set up to shell, Belle learned quickly that a well-placed pinch turns the soft pods into bean rocket launchers. Soon, spring green pods were flying wildly across the kitchen. Tiger was overjoyed by the festive display. The pre-dinner hijinks got the job done (and Mommy even got one all the way in the sink.)
Fava Bean Cavatelli

Homemade cavatelli making tomorrow

Recipe:
Fava bean, Kale, Spinach and Dandelion Green Cavatelli

Set water to boil.
Before water is boiling, sautee:
6 cloves of garlic (use cold oil and heat slowly to medium)
½ a small red onion in rings

Add:
2 large handfuls of freshly shelled fava beans (3/4 cup or so) and sautee until tender

Put in roughly chopped greens (about 1 bunch each), sautee until just wilted.

Cook homemade cavatelli for 3 minutes. Fish out of the water and add to the veggies. Sautee, add a little pasta water, and then cover. Finish with olive oil, red pepper and thinly sliced red onions.
Fava Bean Cavatelli
This post is part of @lornayee from The Cookbook Chronicle's #meatlessweek ; and I decided to join in because I heard about it from @celiacteen . Go enjoy their posts as well as the others lettign the pigs off the hook this week.

And, for fun, I thought I would send this over to Presto Pasta Night started by Ruth of 4 Every Kitchen and hosted this week by Rachel The Crispy Cook.

9 comments:

eatingclubvancouver_js said...

Dish looks great. . .the shelling, the shelling though! LOL re your reputation: I wonder what she tells her friends!

Joanne said...

Mommies somehow always get the rep for being the mean parents while daddies get to be fun. Why is that?

This looks like one fabulously green pasta. All the better because you got to spend quality time together while creating it!

Elizabeth said...

This sounds like fun! (Do I have to have a 3 year old in the house to justify shelling fava beans this way?)

Fava beans with kale and dandelion greens sounds delicious as well.

-Elizabeth

Rachel said...

What lovely photos and such a great spring pasta dish. Thank you for sending this over to this week's edition of Presto Pasta Nights!

Michael @ Herbivoracious.com said...

Your pasta looks simple and delicious, which is exactly the right way to treat those lovely favas. And funny, I had a very similar experience with my munchkin, shelling fresh garbanzos. At first I thought they were all going to get eaten before we had any dinner, but then there was knuckling down and surprising helpfulness! Joy!

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

It does sound like you had fun. I hope I have fun times to look forward to in the kitchen with my little Cooper. It is such a lovely salad and I covet that plate :)

Thistlemoon said...

I am kind of a fava wuss, I hate shelling those babies! LOL! Rules, ah yes, I know them well...

Löu said...

In France, we call that Gnocchis.
I already made two recipes, 1 with Potatoes, the other with Brocoli.
But both time, I could make those thin stripes on it. I have just understood how it does work when I saw your picture.!

The Food Hunter said...

all my favorite things in one dish.