Pasta al pesto: flowers and fava beans {vegan}

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Having lived my whole life in big cities, I had never actually seen elderflower or white acacia flowers! I am ashamed. I was super happy when I found them at the farmers market. Doing some research for possible ways to use the flowers I only came across recipes that called for coating and frying them but I’m not a big fan of fried food so I decided to turn them into a pesto! It has a quite grassy taste, which I love.

Did you know? Elderflower is considered a symbol for renewal and rebirth as it’s able to grow on polluted land, too. Throughout the centuries it’s been appreciated for its therapeutic properties so much that German and Tyrolese farmers, so the story goes, used to kneel before this plant seven times for the seven gifts that they obtained from it: its flowers, buds, leaves, berries, marrow, cork and roots. Among its properties, the berries are used to extract a juice that’s good for draining and detoxifying the colon.

White acacia, or false acacia or black locust, is native to North America but is now common throughout Europe thanks to Jean Robin, French king Henry IV’s herbalist, who brought it to France in the XVII century. Its flowers, that blossom in May and June and have a strong citrusy smell, appear in large clusters. The etymology of the name acacia comes from the Greek akakia, “candor, innocence”, likely referring to its flowers.

Farmers Market
PASTA AL PESTO: FLOWERS AND FAVA BEANS {vegan}
by Marta Giaccone

Recipe
serves 2
prep time: 10 min, cook time: 10 min, total: 20 min

200 gr pasta
2+2 tbsp fava beans (fresh or thawed), divided
½ garlic clove
2 heads of elderflower
4 branches white acacia flower
2 tbsp pine nuts, raw
bunch lemon mint/thyme/lemon thyme, fresh
3 tbsp evoo
salt
juice of 1 lemon

Method

1. Add water and a tsp of salt to a big pot and bring to a boil.
2. Dry toast the pine nuts in a small pan over medium heat for just a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove once they start to brown.
3. In a mortar, crush 2 tbsp fava beans and all the other ingredients (save a few flowers for decoration).
4. When the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook according to packaging instructions.
5. When it’s cooked, drain, put back into the pot, add the pesto and the remaining 2 tbsp fava beans. Mix to incorporate.
6. Serve, sprinkle some flowers on top to make it extra pretty and enjoy!