Aarti Paarti Ep. 11: Fava Bean Pillows with Brown Butter & Crispy Mint

I am so refreshed and excited about Season 2 of the cooking show, guys! Woohoo!

This might be my favorite episode so far, both because the recipe is smack-your-knee delicious... but also because my wicked talented friend, Paul Newman, agreed to come play with me. His songs are deceptively simple and have a way of nuzzling their way into your heart and your memory banks. And his costuming is impeccable. I LOVE this man.

This is a fresh, sophisticated to serve fava beans, those almost neon-green beauties you'll find at the farmers market these days. If you can't find them where you are, use some edamame or peas. Cook 'em with some green garlic, ginger, garam masala and shrimp... whizz 'em up in your food processor, stuff 'em into wonton wrappers, steam and douse in browned butter and crispy mint... and a fancy-looking meal is yours in minutes, and for only a few dollars. (I got my favas for $0.99/lb at Elat Market!).

Take a look!

Aarti Paarti Ep. 11: Fava Bean Pillows with Brown Butter & Crispy Mint! from aarti on Vimeo.

Minty Fresh Fava Bean Pillows with Browned Butter and Crispy Mint!

You'll need:

1 pound fava beans (weighed while in pods), or about 1/5 cups of shelled favas
1 bulb green garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
1/4 pound cooked shrimp
2 tbsp yogurt
1/4 tsp sriracha sauce
1/4 tsp garam masala
zest of 1 lemon, plus the lemon
2 sprigs plus extra for stuffing, fresh mint
1 pkg square wonton wrappers
Small bowl of water
Butter
salt and pepper

1) In a big pot, boil lots and lots of water. Set up your steamer basket if you have one. Meanwhile, heat 2 tsp olive oil in skillet. Add garlic, ginger and fava beans. Saute gently about 5 minutes.

2) Throw shrimp in your food processor. Pulse quickly until coarsely chopped. Remove from processor bowl.

3) Add fava bean mixture to the empty processor bowl. Add yogurt, sriracha, garam masala, lemon zest, mint, salt and pepper. Process until smooth.

4) Grab two dumpling wrappers. Spoon 1 tsp filling on one wrapper. Place a mint leaf over the filling. Dip your pastry brush or your finger into your bowl of water and run it along the edges of both wrappers. Place empty wrapper over filling, squeeze edges together, squeezing the air out as you go.

5) Either steam or boil the raviolis for about 5 minutes. If you're boiling them, turn the heat down so your water is at a gentle boil.

6) While the little pillows are either boiling or steaming, make the brown butter: heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add a spoonful of butter, and stand back as it splutters. Keep a careful eye on it -- it will start to turn brown, and your kitchen will smell gorgeously nutty and sweet. As soon as that happens, throw a few mint leaves in and turn the heat off. Immediately pull your pillows out of the steamer/boiling water into your serving dish. Spoon a little brown butter over them, sprinkle with salt, pepper and squeeze a little lemon juice over the top. Serve immediately!

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aarti