Recipe: Creamed fava beans with tarragon

Total time: 1 hour, 50 minutes

Servings: 6

Note: Fava beans are available at Whole Foods stores and farmers markets.

6 pounds fresh fava beans in their pods

4 teaspoons butter

1 teaspoon minced shallots

4 teaspoons flour

1 cup milk

Small sprig of thyme

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon minced tarragon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 freshly ground pepper

1. Remove the beans from the pods. Bring a large pot of water to boil, add the beans and simmer about 2 to 3 minutes until the beans are tender and the outer skins are loose. Drain and rinse under cold water.

2. Pop each bean out of its shell. You will have about 2 cups of fava beans. Set the beans aside while making the bechamel sauce.

3. Heat the butter in a small saucepan until melted. Add the minced shallots and saute over medium-low heat until tender, about 1 minute. Add the flour and warm for a minute, stirring. Gradually add the milk and whisk until smooth. Add a sprig of thyme and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the sauce from sticking to the bottom. Strain through a fine mesh strainer.

4. Stir in the lemon juice, tarragon, salt and pepper.

5. Stir the peeled fava beans into the cream sauce. Heat 1 to 2 minutes just until the fava beans are hot. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Each serving: 441 calories; 37 grams protein; 81 grams carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 7 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 11 mg. cholesterol; 224 mg. sodium.