Insalata di Seppie e Patate
Sadly the period for fresh peas and fresh favas has past here in Puglia, but for the short time that it lasted, we enjoyed them enormously. Fava beans aren’t a legume that I was familiar with before I moved to Italy, but they were a wonderful discovery, raw and freshly shelled, dried and cooked into a purée or blanched and thrown into a gorgeous seafood salad. I am always looking for new ways to make a salad out of seafood and this Pugliese recipe was perfect for the season. I also found these lovely little fingerling potatoes and couldn’t resist using them, though I think the potato element of this salad would lend itself better had I peeled the potatoes.
Insalata di Seppie e Patate
- 800 grams (1.75 lbs) cuttlefish, cut into rings or small cuttlefish
- 5 white potatoes
- 200 grams (1/2 lb.) shelled fresh peas
- 200 grams (1/2 lb.) shelled fresh fava beans
- 2 lemons
- 1 sprig of parsley, minced
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Bring a pot of water to a boil, add a slice of lemon, 2 tablespoons of its juice and salt to the water. Rinse the cuttlefish well and boil for 30 minutes.
Clean and scrub the potatoes and boil in salted water and cook until tender when pierced with a fork. Drain and cool. I used little fingerling potatoes and didn’t peel them, just squished some of them with the back of a spoon. If using larger potatoes, once they have cooled, peel and cut into small pieces.
Rinse the peas and the fava beans and boil in salted water for 10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking, an ice bath would work as well, if you have ice (we don’t at the moment).
In a large bowl toss the cuttlefish, the potatoes, peas and fava beans together. Add the parsley, salt, freshly ground pepper the remaining juice of the lemons and the olive oil, as much as you think necessary. Toss well and serve at room temperature or cold.
One Year Ago: Limoncello
Two Years Ago: Cuttlefish and Zucchini Risotto alla Scapece & Alici alla Beccafico
Three Years Ago: Chicken Couscous Salad & Frittata di Zucchine Gialle e Provola
Four Years Ago: Cacio e Pepe della Scala
Five Years Ago: Farfalle with Grilled Zucchini and Sausages, Honeydew Melon and Green Tomato Salad, Grilled Sockeye Salmon Fillet & Sautéed Summer Squash
Italicious 