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Broad Bean Cream with Endive and Croutons

17/11/2023

The broad bean cream with endive and croutons is a simple, rustic, and very nutritious dish, perfect for those who love the flavors of Mediterranean cuisine.

Ingredients

  • 300 g of dried broad beans
  • 1 bunch of endive
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 small onion
  • Vegetable broth as needed
  • Salt and pepper as needed
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Slices of homemade bread

Preparation

  1. The night before preparing the dish, soak the dried broad beans in plenty of water.

  2. The next day, drain the beans and rinse them. Peel the garlic and finely chop the onion.

  3. In a pot, sauté the garlic and onion with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil until they are golden brown. Be careful not to burn the garlic.

  4. Add the broad beans, stir for a couple of minutes, and cover with hot vegetable broth until it reaches a few centimeters above the level of the beans.

  5. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and let cook on low heat until the beans are completely softened. This process can take about an hour. If necessary, add more broth during cooking.

  6. While the beans are cooking, thoroughly wash the endive, removing wilted leaves, then cut it into strips.

  7. In another pan, wilt the endive with a drizzle of oil and a whole clove of garlic, which you will remove at the end of cooking. Salt lightly.

  8. When the broad beans are soft, remove some of the cooking liquid (which you can add back later to achieve the desired consistency) and blend the beans with an immersion blender until smooth and homogeneous. If the cream is too thick, add some of the set-aside broth.

  9. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper and, if you like, add a pinch of chili pepper.

  10. Toast the slices of homemade bread in the oven or on a grill until they are crispy.

  11. To serve, spread the broad bean cream onto plates, add the wilted endive, and complete with the toasted bread croutons and a raw drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Curiosity

Broad bean cream is an ancient dish of the peasant tradition, especially in southern Italy, where broad beans were grown and consumed as an economical source of protein and nourishment. In some variations, chicory or other types of bitter vegetables are added to the cream, which balance the sweetness of the broad beans with their slightly bitter taste.

Broad Bean Cream with Endive and Croutons