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Fava (Santorini split pea purée)
Silky yellow split pea purée with capers and red onion (φάβα)
On Santorini, fava is made from a tiny yellow split pea that has grown in the island's volcanic soil for thousands of years. Cooked slowly with onion until it collapses, it is whipped with olive oil and lemon into a purée as smooth as hummus but lighter and sweeter. In island tavernas it comes warm, with raw red onion, capers and a puddle of green olive oil, and you scoop it up with bread. Ordinary yellow split peas work well at home. Serve it as a meze or a light meal with salad. Chef's tip: skim off the white foam that rises in the first 10 minutes; leaving it is the common mistake that gives the purée a bitter, grey edge.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the purée
- 10 ½ oz yellow split peasrinsed well
- 1 onionchopped
- 1 clove garlicpeeled
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 litre water
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
To serve
- ½ red onionfinely chopped
- 1 tbsp capersrinsed
- ½ tsp dried oregano (optional)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Put 10 ½ oz yellow split peas, 1 onion, 1 clove garlic, 1 bay leaf and 1 litre water in a pot and bring to the boil over a medium-high heat. Skim off the foam that rises for the first 10 minutes.
10 minStep 2: Lower the heat, half-cover and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring often towards the end, until the peas have collapsed into a thick porridge and nearly all the water is absorbed. If it catches, add a splash of water.
40 minStep 3: Remove the bay leaf. Blend with ¼ cup olive oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice and 1 tsp salt until completely smooth and pale. It will thicken as it cools, so leave it a little looser than you want.
Step 4: Spread on a plate while warm, make a dip in the middle and top with ½ red onion, 1 tbsp capers, ½ tsp dried oregano and 2 tbsp olive oil.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 280 kcal
- Protein
- 11 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 11 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does fava (Santorini split pea purée) take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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