Broad bean recipes anyone?

[Ceres]

I have lots of broad beans and am lacking inspiration. What shall I do with them?

[Sarasvati]

OMG post them to me! I LOVE broad beans :lol. Always shelled though.

Jamie Oliver has a gorgeous mushy peas and beans recipe... will dig it up...

[Sarasvati]

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/bread-recipes/incredible-smashed-peas-and-broad-beans

I get the girls to help me shell the beans and peas. I normally make it with frozen broad beans as fresh are hard to come by here. I did make it with fresh once and noticed the texture was a bit rougher than usual. I liked it smoother so next time I think I'd cook the fresh broad beans just a tad.

[Mud]

I just pulled up my last. I usually just lightly steam, then puree with lemon or lime juice, a bit of garlic and salt.

[Ceres]

Thankyou!
I had some felafel once made with broad beans that was pretty special but I can't find a recipe.

[Sarasvati]

Will have a look in my cooking with kurma book later, he has a couple of broad bean recipes, one is felafelish from memory.

[Belinda]

You can use a normal falafel recipe and replace the chickpeas with broadbeans. I also make a dip with broadbeans dip by pureeing beans, lemon juice, cumin and olive oil together.

[Ceres]

That sounds good too!

[laura]

we have about 30 broadbean plants, and not a single bean has made it into the house

we just eat them straight from the plant.

My DS, who is only 20 months old, will go outside in the morning, on his own, and sit in front of the broadbeans and eat his fill.

A few times i've lost him and been looking everywhere and finally found him nestled amoungst the bradbeans munching away!

Next year I think we will have to plant more so that I can get enough to shell and freeze for later in the year.

[Belinda]

Ceres, how are you getting your broad beans to survive the heat? Mine are all curling up their toes in this weather, so I'm nearly out.

[Ceres]

They were from my mum's house in the hills where it's slightly cooler..

[Belinda]

:) ok, that makes sense.

[Sarasvati]

Ok Kurma Dasa's broad bean croquettes (felafels)...

2 cups dried broad beans (I imagine could sub fresh easily enough)
1/2 cup chopped italian parsley
1 tspn yellow asafetida powder (he seems to use this instead of onion and garlic)
1 tbspn chopped coriander leaves
1.5 tspn saslt
1/2 tspn fresh ground pepper
1/4 tspn cayenne pepper
1/4 tspn bicarb
1/3 cup sesame seeds
oil for frying

He gives directions for soaking beans, clearly not necessary with fresh ones. Since I have no idea what 2 cups of dried beans will equate to with fresh beans, you would probably have to adjust the quantities given for the other ingredients to taste.

Shell the beans, place ingredients (except sesame seeds and oil) in a food processor, blend until well mixed. KNead in a bowl until smooth and let rest 30 mins.

Divide mixture into heaped tbspon mounds. Form each mound into a thick pattie. Place seeds on a plate and press both sides of the pattie onto seeds and place on a tray. Leave 20 mins.

Fry till golden brown.

(I've not made these, but I would use garlic instead of the asafetida powder, and would reduce the spicy heat. I daresay it can be played with quite a bit).

[Ceres]

Fantastic, thankyou! I wonder how they stick together?

[Sarasvati]

The juice from the beans should stick it together well enough. When I make chickpea felafel I don't add any liquids.