Pea Stew With Pistachios And Lemon Confit Recipes

MARC'S FRESH PEA SOUP WITH MINT JELLY

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups vegetable broth to a boil. Cook until reduced to 1 1/3 cups. Add mint and creme de menthe. Using a handheld immersion blender, puree to break up the mint leaves. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
• Soak gelatin in cold water to cover for 4 minutes. Remove, and squeeze out excess liquid. Add gelatin to broth mixture, and stir to dissolve. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into eight 5- to 6-ounce heat-proof glasses. (Each glass should be one-third full.) Transfer glasses to freezer, and chill until just set, about 10 minutes.
• Combine leek, butter, and peas in a medium saucepan. Add remaining 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, and simmer until peas are tender, about 10 minutes. Using a handheld immersion blender, puree soup until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Season with salt.
• Remove glasses from freezer. Pour hot soup over minted jelly. Wait 4 minutes, and serve immediately.

PAN STEW OF SCALLOPS, PEAS, AND PEARL ONIONS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 12 minutes.
• While the pasta water comes to a boil, begin cooking the pan stew. Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until hot. Add the onions, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until light brown, about 3 minutes. Remove to a plate and reserve. Add the scallops, and cook without moving them until they brown on one side, about 1 minute. Turn and cook just until cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes longer. (The timing will vary according to the size of the scallops. Bay scallops require only seconds.) Remove the scallops to a plate.
• Add the garlic to the pan and sauté briefly until light brown. Add the wine and bring to a boil, while stirring and scraping all over the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits. Add the stock, return to a boil, season with salt and pepper, and add the reserved onions. Simmer gently until the onions are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the peas and continue to cook until just tender, about 3 minutes.
• Return the scallops to the pan with the basil, lemon zest, parsley, and the butter, if using. Cook just until the scallops are warm.
• When the pasta is cooked, drain well and add to the saute pan with the pea mixture. Taste for seasoning and serve immediately.

FAVA BEAN, PEA, AND ARTICHOKE STEW

Steps:

• Prepare fava beans:
• Blanch beans in a 2-quart pot of boiling water 1 minute, then drain in a sieve and immediately transfer to a bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking. Gently peel off skins (it's not necessary to peel edamame, if using).
• Prepare artichokes:
• Fill a large bowl with 4 cups cold water and squeeze juice from 2 lemon halves into bowl.
• Cut off stem of 1 artichoke and reserve. Cut off top inch of artichoke with a serrated knife. Bend back outer leaves until they snap off close to base, then discard several more layers of leaves in same manner until you reach pale yellow leaves with pale green tips.
• Cut remaining leaves flush with top of artichoke bottom using a paring knife, then quarter bottom. Cut out fuzzy choke and purple leaves with paring knife. Trim dark green fibrous parts from base and side of artichoke, then rub cut surfaces with a remaining lemon half and put artichoke bottom in bowl of acidulated water.
• Trim 1/4 inch from end of reserved stem to expose inner core, then trim sides of stem down to pale inner core (don't worry if remaining stem is very thin). Rub cut surfaces with lemon half and put in bowl of acidulated water. Trim remaining artichokes, including stems, in same manner.
• Prepare stew:
• Drain artichokes and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices, including stems. Cook guanciale and onion in oil in a 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 6 minutes. Add sliced artichokes, fava beans, and remaining ingredients and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 45 minutes.

LEMON CONFIT FOR PEA STEW

Steps:

• Cover lemon slices with water by 1/2 inch in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Drain. Repeat 3 times. Return slices to pan. Add syrup. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook until slices are just translucent, about 20 minutes. Let cool.
• Refrigerate slices in syrup in an airtight container until ready to use, up to 1 week. Before using, drain slices on paper towels, and then finely chop.