Fava Bean

“With Italian cooking, the pasta is key,” says Culina chef Victor Casanova. “I try to match the pasta with the sauce and the feel of the dish.” This light, fresh, veggie-packed entrée calls for a delicate pasta. Casanova chose garganelli, which also happens to have ridges that are perfect for grabbing onto the pea puree that serves as the pasta sauce.

I have never enjoyed scavenger hunts. I like foot races (even though I have actually never won a single one), and the idea of treasure. But the combination leaves me cold. I mention this only because shopping for my Roasted Asparagus with Fresh Fava Beans and Morels was a downright quest.

Here's something very cool I'd like to show you. It's a seasonal produce wheel, which I bought at my local grocery a couple of weeks ago for about ten bucks.

Serve these as you would falafel: in a pita, on top of a salad, or as a snack with a dip.

The herbaceous sauce for this fresh vegetarian aguachile comes together swiftly in your blender.

Fava beans, green beans, and snow peas lend crunch to this salad; toss in a versatile vinaigrette for an easy, healthy lunch all week long.