Broad beans

[kellypie]

hello i have just been given some fresh broad beans from my friends garden, when i opened up the pods the beans were pinky/white in colour and only 4 or 5 in each pod. is this what they are supposed to be like???

[glenis]

don't shell them like peas ,just slice them whole and boil them -delicious

[Morticiah]

or ... another way of preparing them

Pod 'em, then Blanch 'em in some boiling water, then pop into cold water and take off the tough outer pinky/white skins to reveal the bright green been inside.

Then saute some pancetta with some red onion, and maybe add some mushrooms. When that's cooked toss in the beans, let it cool and chuck it all together with some fresh salad leaves and your fave salad dressing. Maybe add some Feta cheese, some tomato's etc.

It is time consuming, and you end up with a huge amount of discarded bits for just a few gorgeous green beans, but it's ovely to eat alone with Crusty Tiger Bread *drools or maybe to accompany Steak etc.

[Ethel]

Broad beans are normally grey/green, except chinese broad beans which are more pinky.

A selection of broad bean pics here:

http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=broa d%20beans&sa=N&tab=wi

[kellypie]

thanks a million. cant wait to try out the recipe. x