By Maria A. Pardalis

At no other time of the year can Aginares me Koukia be replicated to taste as glorious as when made in the spring. Artichokes and fava beans are in season and readily available at your local farmer’s market or neighborhood grocery store. The vibrant combination of these two nutritious vegetables appears in nearly every Mediterranean country, from Portugal to Lebanon. Fava beans, also called broad beans, are globally representative of springtime and are especially loved in Greece where they are a culinary event. Mixing this ancient legume with savory artichokes makes for a comforting traditional Greek dish that is centuries old.

Slow cooking causes the vegetables to lose their color but intensifies the flavor which results in a sweet and succulent stew that even shameless carnivores will adore. Fava beans may still be considered a novelty in America but that should not intimidate you from trying this easy recipe.

Aginares me Koukia
(Artichokes with Fava Beans)

Prep time: 5 minutes
Bake time: 2 hours
Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:

• 6 Artichokes, trimmed and halved
• 2 ½ cups shelled fava beans
• 2 cups peas
• ½ cup finely chopped fresh dill
• Sea Salt and Ground Black Pepper, to taste
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix first five ingredients together in a large baking pan. Add one cup water and cover with foil. Bake for 1 ½ hours.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a skillet. Once oil is hot, add minced garlic and onion. Sauté for 5 minutes or until softened. Remove from heat and add to artichokes and fava beans in baking dish.
3. Stir vegetable mixture well. Add 1 more cup water and bake for 30 minutes uncovered.
4. Remove from heat and mix in red wine vinegar. Allow to sit for 10 minutes.

Serve warm with rich cheese, olives and fresh bread. Although Aginares me Koukia tastes wonderful all by its self, pairing it with a crisp glass of dry white wine dramatically enhances this dish’s flavor and brings it to an entirely new level. I recommend using your favorite Chardonnay, which will compliment this healthy meal beautifully.

Kali Orexi!!