The soft goat cheese in this spread is a perfect partner for the mild fava beans and the sharp crispness of the radishes.
Text And Photos By Sarah Kenney

After being so thrilled to find all of those beautiful fava beans at Canino’s Mexican Market here in Houston, Texas, I knew I was set to make this delicious looking spread I had seen recently. We had a busy weekend with many activities beginning to wind down for the school year. I knew there might be some missed meals here and there so I wanted to make something healthy for at home.

The ingredients that went into this dip were simple but so aromatic. It was a wonderful dish to pull together because it is so visually appealing. The lemon zest and juice with the fresh snippets of tarragon made my nose buds tingle.

The soft goat cheese is a perfect partner for the mild fava beans and the sharp crispness of the radishes. I just cannot believe I haven’t eaten radishes until now. It has always been one of those childhood activities to sneer at the little red orbs. They are so good…well…especially spread with this dip.

Fava beans are the prettiest color green. They are fun to shell because the pod is so big that they really “snap” quite satisfactorily! We had enough of this treat that during the week we spread it on some crispy fig crackers for a healthy snack.

As the school year draws to a close, weekend events help us settle into our new home of Texas. We appreciate the diversity of cultures all coming together in this vast city. We always feel like we’ve just tipped the edge of discoveries waiting for us here.

Fava Bean And Goat Cheese Spread

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5 from 1 review

Author: Sarah Kenney
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4-6 servings 1x

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Description

This creamy spread combines tangy goat cheese with mild fava beans, enhanced by fresh tarragon and lemon, perfect for pairing with crisp radishes and fig crackers.

Ingredients

Units Scale

2 pounds fava beans, shelled
1/2 cup soft goat cheese (4 oz)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Radishes, sliced, for serving
Fig crackers, for serving

Instructions

Prepare an ice-water bath. Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil.
Add the fava beans and cook until tender, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Drain the beans and transfer them to the ice-water bath to cool. Once cooled, drain and peel the beans.
In a food processor, pulse the peeled fava beans until roughly chopped.
Add the goat cheese, olive oil, tarragon, lemon zest, and lemon juice to the processor. Season with salt and pepper.
Process the mixture until smooth and creamy.
Transfer the spread to a serving bowl. Serve with sliced radishes and fig crackers.

Notes

Fava beans are fun to shell and have a satisfying snap. This spread pairs well with radishes and fig crackers for a healthy snack. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can substitute fresh mint for tarragon if desired.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mediterranean