Whipped Feta Dip with Fava Beans
I am challenging myself to cook with new ingredients. I love trying new things, especially when it comes to food, so this is a great challenge for me to undertake. I’ve been intrigued to try fava beans since I first saw them at the market last summer. I finally pulled the trigger and picked some up, which resulted in this delicious Whipped Feta Dip with Fava Beans. The fava beans get lightly sautéed with aromatics, then served over a pillowy whipped feta dip for a spectacular appetizer situation. I hope this recipe inspires you to give fava beans a try too!
Table of Contents
- Ingredients to Make Whipped Feta Dip with Fava Beans
- What are Fava Beans?
- Equipment
- Step One—Prepare the Fava Beans
- Step Two—Make the Whipped Feta Dip
- Step Three—Sauté the Fava Beans
- Step Four—Assemble the Dip & Serve
- More Delicious Dips
- Whipped Feta Dip with Fava Beans Recipe
Ingredients to Make Whipped Feta Dip with Fava Beans
To make this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
For the Fava Beans
- 1 lb fava beans
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large garlic clove
- 1/2 teaspoon aleppo pepper
- Juice of half a lemon
- Sea salt, to taste
For the Whipped Feta Dip
- 160 grams (1 cup) feta cheese, at room temperature
- 85 grams (1/3 cup) plain Greek yogurt, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh mint and parsley, to garnish
- Lemon zest, to garnish
- 10 grams (1 tablespoon) chopped pistachios, to garnish
What are Fava Beans?
Fava beans, also commonly known as broad beans, are a variety of legumes in the pea and bean family. Like peas, the beans grow within an outer pod, which needs to be shucked to access the beans. Fava beans are one of the oldest cultivated plants, with archeological evidence of domesticated fava beans being discovered at Neolithic sites. Fava beans were a staple in ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian civilizations and remain popular in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. The first cultivation of fava beans in North America was in the 1600s when they were brought over by European settlers.
Stepping away from the history for a second, fava beans have a delightful, slightly nutty flavour that differentiates them from other legumes. They are also rich in plant-based protein, dietary fiber, and vital micronutrients like folate, iron, and manganese. In a nut shell, they’re very good for you.
Equipment
- Immersion blender
- Sauté pan
- Mixing bowls
Step One—Prepare the Fava Beans
Fava beans are a bit of a labour of love in the preparation department. To prep fava beans for use, the rough outer pod needs to be shucked, then a second skin on the beans themselves needs to be removed before the beans are ready to be eaten or used in a recipe.
Bring a medium pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Shuck the fava beans by removing the outer pods so you are left with the beans inside. Blanch the beans in the boiling water for 2 mins, then immediately transfer them to an ice bath (a bowl of cold water and ice cubes) to stop the cooking process.
Use your fingers to peel the outer skins off of the blanched fava beans so you are left with the bright green beans inside.
Step Two—Make the Whipped Feta Dip
Add the feta and Greek yogurt to a medium mixing bowl. Use a fork to gently mash the two ingredients together. Using an immersion blender, pulse the blade, moving it around the bowl, until the feta and yogurt are combined, mostly smooth, light, and fluffy. Do not run the blade continuously; this will overblend the dip and give it a weird goopy texture. Drizzle in the olive oil and pulse the immersion blender to blend it into the whipped feta. Transfer the whipped feta dip to a serving platter or bowl.
If you don’t have an immersion blender, whipped feta can also be made using a food processor. Simply add the yogurt and feta to a food processor and pulse together. Drizzle in the olive oil slowly while pulsing.
Step Three—Sauté the Fava Beans
Heat a sauté pan over medium-low heat. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan. Once the oil is shimmering, add the prepared fava beans to the pan along with the aleppo pepper and garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes, stirring continuously. Pour the lemon juice over the fava beans and season with sea salt.
Step Four—Assemble the Dip & Serve
Pour the fava beans and all their cooking oil over the whipped feta dip. Garnish the dip with chopped fresh herbs, lemon zest, and chopped pistachios. Serve the dip immediately with a selection of crusty bread, crackers, or vegetable crudité.
More Delicious Dips
If you loved this Whipped Feta Dip with Fava Beans, be sure to check out these other delicious dips:
Caramelized Onion, White Bean, and Feta Dip
If you make this recipe, please tag me on Pinterest, TikTok, or Instagram so I can see! I love to see what you all are making.
Feel free to leave any questions, comments, or reviews below. I love to hear from you!
Whipped Feta Dip with Fava Beans
Equipment
- Immersion blender
- Mixing bowls
- Sauté pan
Ingredients
Fava Beans
- 1 lb fava beans
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon aleppo pepper
- Juice of half a lemon
- Sea salt, to taste
Whipped Feta Dip
- 160 grams feta cheese, at room temperature (1 cup)
- 85 grams plain Greek yogurt, at room temperature (1/3 cup)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh parsley and mint, to garnish
- 1 tablespoon chopped pistachios, to garnish (10 grams)
- Lemon zest, to garnish
Instructions
- Bring a medium pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Shuck the fava beans by removing the outer pods so you are left with the beans inside. Blanch the beans in the boiling water for 2 mins, then immediately transfer them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process.
- Use your fingers to peel the outer skins off of the blanched fava beans so you are left with the bright green beans inside.
- Add the feta and Greek yogurt to a medium mixing bowl. Use a fork to gently mash the two ingredients together. Using an immersion blender, pulse the blade, moving it around the bowl, until the feta and yogurt are combined, mostly smooth, light, and fluffy. Do not run the blade continuously; this will overblend the dip and give it a weird goopy texture. Drizzle in the olive oil and pulse the immersion blender to blend it into the whipped feta. Transfer the whipped feta dip to a serving platter or bowl.
- Heat a sauté pan over medium-low heat. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan. Once the oil is shimmering, add the prepared fava beans to the pan along with the aleppo pepper and garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes. Pour the lemon juice over the fava beans and season with sea salt.
- Pour the fava beans and all their cooking oils over the whipped feta dip. Garnish the dip with chopped fresh herbs, lemon zest, and chopped pistachios. Serve the dip immediately with a selection of crusty bread, crackers, or vegetable crudité.
