GLUTEN-FREE CREAMED AVOCADO AND BROAD BEANS
I suppose you could call this dish a culinary cross of Aussie and Mediterranean tastes.
We love our avocados in Australia but many of us also love the flavours of olive oil, preserved lemons and fresh lemon juice. Add some bright green broad beans, blend it all into a creamy mixture and you have a winner. Simple, delicious.
Caren
CREAMED AVOCADO AND BROAD BEANS
Makes approximately 700gm, enough for a substantial mezze plate.
2 teaspoons salt
300 gm fresh or frozen podded broad beans
½ preserved lemon, rinsed
2 large avocados, skins and seeds removed, approx. 400gm flesh
50 ml lemon juice, more to taste
75 ml extra virgin olive oil
Pinch ground white pepper
Sea salt
4 spring onions, finely sliced
Fresh chilli slices or dried chilli flakes, optional
Small lettuce leaves, baby cucumbers or gluten-free crackers to serve
Bring a pot of water to the boil and add the salt.
Blanch the beans for 2-3 minutes, drain, then refresh in a bowl of iced water until cool. Drain and pat dry with a clean tea towel.
Remove and discard the skins leaving you with the bright green internal beans. Set aside 1/3 of the beans for the topping.
Slice the skin from the preserved lemon, cut it into fine strips and set aside. Roughly chop the flesh of the preserved lemon, discarding the seeds.
Place half of the preserved lemon flesh, 2/3 of the broad beans, avocado flesh, lemon juice, 50ml olive oil and pepper in a food processor. Blend until fairly smooth but still with a bit of texture.
Add sea salt, extra pepper, lemon juice and preserved lemon flesh to taste.
Heat the remaining 25ml oil in a small frying pan and add the sliced spring onions. Fry over low heat until barely coloured then add the remaining broad beans and preserved lemon skin. Stir to combine then remove from the heat.
Spread the creamed avocado and broad bean mixture over a shallow dish and top with the spring onion mixture. Scatter over chilli slices or flakes if using.
Serve with small lettuce leaves, baby cucumbers, corn chips or gluten-free crackers.