Fave e Cicorie (Fava Bean Mash with Greens)

**This morning I harvested my ‘cicorie’, it’s the first time I’ve grown it in my small vegetable garden. I’m delighted with it 🙂 Not quite sure what it’s called in English though!**

**These are dried fava (broad) beans, when boiled they become a thick, delicious purée.**

Dried Fava Beans (Broad Beans) with Cicorie….a bitter green vegetable that is widely used in Puglia. If you can’t find it where you live you can use chard or spinach.

Soak the dried fava beans for about 8 hours in cold water. Drain and place in a saucepan covered by 3 to 4 cm of cold water. Bring to the boil and then simmer for about an hour and a half until they disintegrate. Add salt and stir with a wooden spoon to form a thick purée….about the consistency of mashed potatoes. The consistency of the bean purée depends on personal taste, I like it thick like mashed potatoes, others prefer the consistency of a thick soup. Bring some salted water to the boil and add the greens, cook them until they’re soft…about 10/15 minutes and drain them well. Serve with a generous drizzle of olive oil and some freshly ground black pepper.