Fava Bean Gazpacho

I think Fava beans are the culinary world’s secret weapon; they are versatile, flavorful, and full of nutrients. 

My wife recently made a tremendous Fava bean Gazpacho.  Here’s the list of ingredients:

• 1 bag of dry Fava beans
• 4-6 scallions
• salt and pepper to taste
• olive oil
• chicken stock
• 8-10 basil leaves

Start by soaking the beans overnight in a large pot.  When you’re ready to prepare the dish, begin by simmering the beans for about 45 minutes.  Remove the beans from the hot water and de skin the beans (this is a little time consuming).  In the same pot, add olive oil and slowly sauté the scallions until they are soft.  Add salt and pepper and the Fava beans.  Next, add a ladle full of hot chicken stock and blend the mixture with a hand blender until smooth (keep on adding broth and mix until you get the consistency you like).

Refrigerate the mixture for a few hours and thereafter serve in large white bowls (with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh basil).  Note: the mixture may become a bit stiff once it’s removed from the refrigerator, but adding a bit of olive oil should reconstitute the cold soup.