Broad Bean And Crispy Pancetta Salad With A Pea Pecorino And Mint Dressing Recipes

BROAD BEAN AND CRISPY PANCETTA SALAD WITH A PEA, PECORINO AND MINT DRESSING

Steps:

• Bring a pot to the boil, half-filled with water, but with no salt as this makes broad beans and peas toughen. Add your garlic and allow the water to boil for a couple of minutes before adding the broad beans. Cook for around 3-5 minutes, depending on how young the beans are. Simply taste one to check. If you feel the skins are a little tough, which they can be sometimes, let them cool a little and then you can peel them very quickly by pinching and squeezing the bean out. Throw the skins away, and keep the garlic clove to one side. Place your pancetta on a baking tray, with the almonds spread out next to it. Place in a hot oven at 250°C/475°F/gas 9 - keeping an eye on the almonds to make sure they don't colour too much. You should be able to crisp up the pancetta at the same time as toasting the almonds, but simply remove one or the other if it is getting too far ahead.
• To make the dressing, put your raw podded peas and the soft, boiled garlic clove into a pestle and mortar or a Magimix and bash or blitz until smooth. Add the cheese and most of the mint and stir or pulse to make a smooth paste. You want to turn this into a thick dressing, so add the olive oil and 4-5 tablespoons of lemon juice, to your preference. Season to taste - it should have an amazing flavour of sweet peas, twangy lemon, fragrant mint and a softness and roundness from the cheese. A balance is good, but you should also trust your own personal judgement - I generally like mine to be a bit more lemony, to cut through the smokiness of the pancetta.
• Mix the dressing with the broad beans and sprinkle this over 4 plates. Crumble the pancetta over, followed by a sprinkling of the almonds, which can be crushed or bashed up a little. Tear a little mint over the top with a little shaved Parmesan if you like.
• Mix the dressing with the broad beans and sprinkle this over 4 plates. Crumble the pancetta over, followed by a sprinkling of the almonds, which can be crushed or bashed up a little. Tear a little mint over the top with a little shaved Parmesan if you like.

SALAD OF NEW POTATOES WITH PANCETTA, BROAD BEANS & MINT

Steps:

• Cook the potatoes in their skins in a pan of boiling salted water. They will take between 10-12 minutes and should be tender when the point of a knife is inserted. Drain the potatoes and allow to cool.
• Meanwhile, place the broad beans in a large pan of boiling salted water. Cook for 3-4 minutes then tip in the peas. Boil for another 2-3 minutes until both the peas and broad beans are tender but still have some texture. Now drain and refresh in icy cold water. Remove the outer skins of the broad beans and discard, if you have the time.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the extra virgin olive oil in a heavy-based saucepan and fry the pancetta until really crispy. Then tip the pancetta with its oil into a large bowl. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them in half lengthways and add to the bowl. Mix well so that the warm potatoes can absorb some of the delicious pancetta flavours.
• In a small food processor or with a hand blender, blend the herb leaves with two tablespoons of the extra virgin olive oil. Then add the lemon juice and whisk in the remaining oil to form an emulsion. Season well with salt and black pepper.
• Now throw the peas and the peeled broad beans into the bowl, pour over the dressing and gently mix together. Check the seasoning and serve immediately.