Τhis month I’d love to share this Greek island fava with you. It is rather confusing as traditional fava is not made with what we know as fava (broad beans) but with split yellow peas instead. I was stirred into action with this one when my mother brought me a packet of the split peas back from her recent holiday in Rhodes. You can use any yellow split pea but if you’re after the real thing you could go to the Ergon restaurant and deli in London or buy their beans on line.

Serves 2

Ingredients:
200 g/7 oz yellow split peas, rinsed and drained
2 bay leaves
1 small onion, diced
1 tsp salt
3 cloves of garlic, crushed
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
juice of 1 lemon
freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp capers, rinsed
1 tbsp parsley, roughly chopped
a few pieces of red onion, very finely sliced

Method:
1. Place the split peas, bay leaves, onion and enough cold water to cover everything by a couple of centimetres in a saucepan. Bring the water to the boil skimming away any scum or froth.

2. Simmer for about 45 minutes, stirring from time to time and, if necessary, adding a little extra water to keep the peas just covered.

3. Add the salt and continue to simmer until the beans are very tender and almost dry.

4. Remove the bay leaves and allow the split peas to cool for a few minutes before you puree them with a hand held blender or in a food processor.

5. Don’t worry, the peas will taste bland and flabby, they will be screaming for seasoning. Add the garlic, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, freshly ground black pepper and more salt, if required, until you have a wonderfully balanced puree.

6. Spoon into a bowl and allow to cool completely, letting the flavours get to know each other.

7. Serve with a sprinkling of capers, parsley, red onion and a splash of extra virgin oil.

Topping combination tips:
Chopped fresh oregano, coriander or parsley.

A few chopped Kalamata olives.

Diced tomato and a handful of rocket.

A sprinkling of roasted cumin seeds and sweet Aleppo or Urfi chilli flakes.

We’re having the fava with a few olives, a tomato salad and some bread for a really healthy light lunch but do try serving it with some charred squid or cuttlefish.

Source: ergonfoods.com