Fave with ham

Fave with ham is a simple and tasty dish, typical of Italian cuisine. Ideal as an appetizer or as a spring side dish. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 400 g of fresh, shelled fava beans
• 100 g of cured ham, preferably of high quality and possibly Italian, such as Parma Ham or San Daniele Ham
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Fine salt (to taste)
• Black pepper (to taste)
• A sprig of rosemary (optional)

Preparation

1. Begin by cleaning the fava beans. If they are very young, you can cook them whole, otherwise, you will need to remove the outer skin to make them more tender and digestible.
2. Heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil in a pan and, if you like, add a sprig of rosemary to flavor.
3. Add the fava beans and cook over medium-low heat for about 10-15 minutes, until they become tender. If necessary, you can add a bit of water to prevent them from drying out too much.
4. While the fava beans are cooking, cut the cured ham into strips or cubes, according to your preference.
5. When the fava beans are ready, adjust with salt and pepper, and add the cured ham, stirring gently to avoid breaking them.
6. Serve the fava beans warm or at room temperature, perhaps accompanied by toasted bread crostini or focaccia.

It is advisable to choose high-quality cured ham, because with so few ingredients the quality of each becomes fundamental for the end result of the dish.

Alternatively, for a fresh and slightly spicy touch, you can also add some chopped mint or a few flakes of Pecorino Romano cheese at the end of cooking the fava beans.

Curiosity

The dish of fava beans and ham is typical of the May Day holiday in Italy, particularly in the central regions such as Lazio and Umbria, where the arrival of spring is celebrated with outdoor picnics that always include this combination and a good glass of wine.