This is probably the most famous dish from the most famous Greek island, the lovely Santorini. Most people think of Santorini as quiet and peaceful; to us, it’s busy and crazy, because it’s the large central island in the neighborhood of the tiny island where we lived. So where most people go to Santorini to get away from it all, we went “to the city” in Santorini.
Santorini is famous, food-wise, for a few things: yellow split peas, tomatoes, and wine are the big ones. The most common way to prepare yellow split peas is a dish called “fava.” Fava has nothing to do with fava beans. It only uses yellow split peas. (Fava beans are used very rarely in Greece, because a significant chunk of the population is allergic to them.)
This is a really quick dish to prepare if you have a pressure cooker, which, as I’ve mentioned before, you really should if you eat legumes with any regularity.
I tend to be lazy about rinsing things (rice, beans, etc.) but you really do need to rinse yellow split peas. They get very foamy if you don’t, and that can cause problems in the pressure cooker.
Cover them with water by about 1 cm, and add a bay leaf. Cook under pressure for about 6 minutes. (In my pressure cooker, as soon as it reaches pressure, I turn off the burner completely. However, whether you can get away with that will depend on your stove.)
When you open it up, the liquid should be absorbed and the peas should be very soft. If they look like yellow mush, that’s great. If they still have their shape but are very soft, that’s fine too.
Add onion, garlic, Greek oregano, salt, freshly ground pepper, red wine vinegar, and olive oil.
Blend with an immersion blender. If you don’t have an immersion blender, use a food processor.
Serve, topping with onion cut sideways and capers, and more olive oil.
This is not the ‘restaurant-style’ fava that you may have had before. If you want ‘restaurant-style,’ leave out the oregano and go nuts with the olive oil.
Serve with olives, bread, and maybe a little feta cheese.
Santorini Fava
serves 4 as appetizer or 2 as main dish
200g yellow split peas, well rinsed
1 dried bay leaf
1 small onion; chop 1/2, slice 1/2
2-3 cloves garlic, pressed
1.5 tbsp Greek oregano
1 tsp salt
freshly ground pepper
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp capers, rinsed
1. Put the yellow split peas and the bay leaf in the pressure cooker. Cover with water by 1 cm. Cook under pressure for about 6 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally.
2. Put chopped onion, pressed garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, vinegar, and 1 tbsp olive oil into pot with peas. Blend very thoroughly with immersion blender.
3. Serve, topping with sliced onion, capers, and remaining olive oil.
Nutritional Information
per serving, i.e., 1/2 of the total recipe.
561 calories
22g fat (3g saturated, 19g unsaturated)
70g carbohydrate
26g protein
27g dietary fiber
0mg cholesterol
1298mg sodium (54% DV)
1212mg potassium (35% DV)
Contains a significant amount (+10% DV) of the following:
calcium, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B-6, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, iron, riboflavin, folate, manganese, and copper.
You might also like:
Greek lentil soup
Olive bread
Weird things in my kitchen
excellent food full of vitamins!
That looks delicious!
Santorini tomato fritters were my favourite dish of the island!
I have split peas in my store cupboard so I’m going to make this. Sounds fab!
OH YUM. I may be the only one in my family that truly enjoys split peas. But I still manage to make it and they seem to tolerate it. lol. Apparently I need a pressure cooker! I remember cooking with my mothers when I was a teenager and it made the most tender pot roast ever. Never really thought about it since. Thanks!
Reblogged this on Greek Aura.
amazing dish and very nutritious 🙂
Pingback: manestra: simple Greek comfort food | homeingreece
Pingback: creamy lemon pasta | homeingreece
Pingback: the potato movement & a recipe | homeingreece
Pingback: Greek okra | homeingreece
Pingback: melitzanosalata | Greek eggplant dip | homeingreece
Pingback: fennel seed kebabs with yogurt sauce on pita | homeingreece
Pingback: skordalia | Greek garlic dip | homeingreece
I was recently on Santorini, and I loved lava. Now that I’m home in the US, I’d like to make it. I was pleased to find your recipe, and this dish will soon be on our table!
I second the previous post…just got home from Santorini and excited to try and reproduce our favorite dish. Thanks!
Pingback: O réveillon foi só uma desculpa para ir a Atenas | Fui e vou voltar
Pingback: Santorini Overview: Greece's Most Impressive Island | Bella Vita Travels
I have checked your page and i have found some duplicate content, that’s
why you don’t rank high in google, but there is a tool
that can help you to create 100% unique content, search for: Boorfe’s tips unlimited content
I have checked your website and i have found some duplicate
content, that’s why you don’t rank high in google, but there is a tool
that can help you to create 100% unique articles, search for: Best article rewritwer Ercannou’s essential tools
Hi, is anybody here interested in online job?
It’s simple survey filling. Even 10 bucks per survey (ten minutes of work).
If you are interested, send me email to hans.orloski[@]gmail.com