12.6.08

The 3 Fs

Favas com Chouriço

In the last century, Portugal was under dictatorship for almost 50 years. During that time, the "3 Fs" - fado, Fátima, and football - provided some sort of collective anesthesia more than welcome by the regime. Music, religion, and sports were all the people would need to keep going with their miserable life and not complain. With the end of the long-term Salazar dictatorship, the trilogy became old fashioned. It was time for the new real "three Fs" to stand forward. Nowadays for the Portuguese, family, friends and food are inseparable... We usually meet around the table, eating and chatting through the afternoon or the evening. Food is as much an excuse to talk to friends as talking is to meet up for a meal.

I don't cook traditional Portuguese very often. Either because I'm not really good at it or just because I grew up eating world food instead of deep rooted Portuguese dishes. Or just because I'm too lazy to make the effort to reinvent some old classics, like some promising young chefs are doing currently in the Portuguese Cuisine scene. But I made a promise to give it another try to Portuguese food a while ago. When my kitchen was invaded by broad beans, aka favas, I just knew the time had arrived.

Favas com Chouriço
Broad beans with Chorizo

Serves 4

400 grs fresh fava beans (about 2 cups), peeled twice
1 medium onion, chopped
2 gloves garlic, finely chopped
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 large chorizo (best quality), sliced
1/2 glass white wine
1 cup vegetable or chicken stock
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped + extra stems
a bunch of garlic leaves (optional)
1 tsp pimentão doce (paprika)
Cooked rice, to serve

In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil, and add the chorizo slices. Cook for 3 minutes. Remove the chorizo to a bowl. Add the onions, garlic, and garlic leaves (if using) and cilantro stems. Saute for 2 minutes. Add the white wine to deglaze. Simmer for 2 minutes. Add the fava beans, the pimentão doce and the stock. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes or until favas are cooked. Return chorizo slices to the saucepan. Add chopped cilantro leaves. Serve with cooked rice.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

OH MY, I can not wait to show this to Lenny - he is Portuguese and completely digs this stuff. I just have a hard time finding it in the bay area. We now grow favas so thate we have fresh ones when we can't find in the markets! But, I can't find really chorizo around here - he will be jealous!

Chibog in Chief said...

my brother in law made some of this yesterday..it was really good!! on football thing france is high on this sport too!! heheh i dont think we will win anyway hahaha :-) i dont think my hubby will like this last statement :-)

Clumbsy Cookie said...

Que prato tão patriotico Suzana! Até usaste as cores da bandeira, lol! Eu não sou grande amida de favas, mas com o chouricinho já fico servida, há lá coisa melhor?

Susan from Food Blogga said...

I'd love to have my kitchen invaded by fava beans. It looks delicious!

Elizabeth said...

Suzana - that looks like it would be so satisfying without being overly filling...it's bookmarked for me to try!

Mónica Pinto said...

Suzana, está lindo este teu prato de favas, original e apetitoso. Adorei!
Beijinhos

Isabel (pipoka) said...

Gostei muito do texto, com o qual me identifico muitíssimo, e adorei aquele detalhe(?) da meia fava com o pedacito de chouriço em cima...uma fofura.

As favas com chouriço são dos meus pratos favoritos da comida tradicional portuguesa; a par das ervilhas guisadas. A minha receita é muito parecida com a tua, mas como sou fanática por farinheira ela é indispensável na minha "favada". Também não costumo usar o pimentão, mas para a próxima certamente usarei.

beijos e boa viagem