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Vegetarian, South and mountains

Provençal fava beans and artichokes with rice

Provençal fava beans and artichokes is a spring vegetable stew with onion, garlic and thyme, served with rice, for 4 people. It takes 55 minutes and is rated easy, at €3.30 per serving. The key is a gentle simmer that concentrates the flavor without drowning the vegetables in water.

Tonight, spring is on the plate, fresh fava beans and artichokes simmered with onion and thyme, served with rice.

Provençal fava beans and artichokes with rice
Total time
55 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.30
Calories per person
560 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring

This dish smells like a spring market, fresh fava beans just shelled and baby artichokes still a bit sharp in your hands. Once peeled, the fava beans turn soft and sweet, while the artichokes simmered with onion and thyme take on a round, almost candied flavor. Plain white rice is mostly there to soak up the fragrant juices left in the pot.

Make this when you have a bit of time, on a quiet weeknight or a Sunday, since trimming the fava beans and artichokes takes patience. It appeals to fans of green vegetables and Southern French cooking, though kids sometimes turn their noses up at artichokes. Mon Chou suggests this one as soon as the market stalls change color in March and April.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Shelled fresh fava beans 800 g
  • Baby artichokes 8
  • Spring onions 4
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Lemon 1

Pantry

  • Thymeoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

The step by step recipe

  1. Blanch the fava beans for 2 minutes in boiling water, cool them, then slip off their thin skins. 8 min

    Drop them into ice water right away to keep their bright green color.

  2. Trim the artichokes, cut them into quarters and rub them with lemon. 12 min

    Keep the hearts and tender leaves, discard the tough outer leaves.

  3. Sauté the sliced spring onions and garlic in olive oil, then add the artichokes. 8 min

    The spring onions should turn just translucent, no more.

  4. Add the fava beans, thyme and a glass of water, cover and let simmer over low heat. 20 min

    Most of the water should be gone by the end, this dish is served barely moist.

  5. Cook the rice in salted water and serve it alongside the vegetables with a drizzle of olive oil. 11 min

    A touch of lemon zest at the last minute wakes up the whole dish.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick firm fava beans and small baby artichokes that are tender all the way through, so you can eat them whole without a tough choke to remove.
  • Rub each cut artichoke with lemon right away so it doesn't darken before cooking.
  • Taste the simmering liquid before serving, it should be concentrated, if not, let it cook a few more minutes uncovered.

The variations

  • Swap fresh fava beans for frozen shelled ones when they're out of season, it will cut down on prep time.
  • Add a few candied tomatoes or a spoonful of tomato paste for a bolder, more stew like Provençal version.
  • For kids, blend the vegetables into a soup and serve the rice on the side, the flavor stays mild and familiar.

What to serve it with

  • A little grated parmesan on top
  • Toasted country bread
  • A glass of lemon water

Storage

This dish keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well without the rice, for up to 2 months. Reheat gently in a saucepan with a little water to bring back the juices.

Questions about this dish

Can I use frozen fava beans instead of fresh ones?

Yes, frozen shelled fava beans work well when fresh ones are out of season. Just blanch them for 2 minutes like fresh ones before peeling off the skin.

Do I need to remove the choke from baby artichokes?

Baby artichokes are young and have almost no tough choke. Just remove the toughest outer leaves before cutting them into quarters.

Can this dish be made ahead?

Yes, the simmered vegetables can be made the day before and actually taste better after resting. Cook the rice just before serving so it stays nicely separate.

What kind of rice works best here?

Either round or long grain white rice works, whatever you have on hand. It should stay plain, since its main job is soaking up the flavorful juices from the vegetables.

How long does it take to make Provençal fava beans and artichokes with rice?

Count 55 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in Provençal fava beans and artichokes with rice?

About 560 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does Provençal fava beans and artichokes with rice cost?

About €3.30 per serving, or €13.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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