Portuguese-Style Fava Beans

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            FOOD FUNNY
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Mary Blankenship writes, "I remembered a true food funny. Most
of us in the South love cream gravy. My friend had a visitor from
Sweden who wasn't sure she liked Southern cooking at all. She
was very disdainful of cream gravy served with fried chicken and
mashed potatoes until they told her it was a special 'White Sauce,'
and then she loved it and wanted the recipe!"

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            TODAY'S RECIPE
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The Portuguese are very fond of fava beans, and they're so fond
of this method of cooking them that they named it after themselves.
Fava beans may be called broad beans in your neck of the woods,
and if they aren't available in your area, baby lima beans make a
very good substitute.

Portuguese-Style Fava Beans (Favas a Portuguesa)

2 Tbs (30 ml) olive oil
3 thin slices bacon, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 lb (450 g) shelled fava beans (broad beans) or baby
lima beans, thawed if frozen
1 bay (laurel) leaf
2 sprigs fresh parsley or cilantro (coriander), chopped
A pinch of sugar
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 cup (250 ml) water

Heat the oil in a pot over moderate heat and saute the bacon,
onion, and garlic until the onion is tender but not brown, about
5 minutes. Add the beans, bay leaf, parsley, sugar, salt, and
pepper and simmer covered over low heat for 5 minutes. Add
the water and simmer covered until the beans are tender, about
15 minutes. Drain and discard the liquid before ser4ving. Serves
4 to 6.
Received on Wed Aug 16 08:32:28 2006