The Greek Fava Santorini

The Greek Fava

Fava (or φάβα) is a traditional Greek dish that is very popular in Santorini as well. The dish has some history; it could be found in public taverns and made its way to the houses of the rich later on. Some sources even claim that it has been invented in Santorini (it’s very popular around here, that’s for sure).  It is not only super delicious but easy to make as well!

All you need is

• 500g of yellow split peas,
• 2 cloves of garlic,
• 3 red onions, 2 lemons,
• 1/3 cup of olive oil,
• thyme,
• salt and
• pepper.

Chop the onions and garlic roughly and fry them in a bit of oil. Add some fresh thyme. Rinse the split peas before boiling with water. When the onions start to caramelize add the remainder of the oil and peas and stir. Add plenty of salt and pepper to the mix and leave it boiling on medium heat for about 40 minutes. The aim is to get the peas soft and mushy. If some foam appears on the surface of the water, you should remove it. After boiling, squeeze out the juice of the lemons and pour it in the mixture. Afterwards put the mix in a food processor and blend till it becomes a puree.

This food is usually serves as a side dish with a bit of olive oil, diced onion and a squeeze of lemon juice. It can be enjoyed either hot or cold. Give it a try – you’ll be surprised of how well this Santorini treat tastes! Of course, this is only one of the many variations – everyone cooks it a bit differently. That’s why it is probably best to come to Santorini and visit a few houses and cafes to enjoy it to the fullest.

Photo credit:
https://www.lazycatkitchen.com/greek-fava-caramelised-onions/?print=true