Fava Bean Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 19 ounce can fava beans or 2 cups young fresh fava beans out-of-the pod and steamed
• 1 medium English cucumber coarsely chopped
• 1 large roma tomato coarsely chopped
• 1 cup pitted kalamata olive chopped
• 1 medium red onion finely chopped
• 1 head romaine lettuce finely chopped
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons dried sweet basil leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley finely chopped
• coarse-ground black pepper
• sea salt

Steps:

• Combine fava beans chopped cucumber tomato olives red onion romaine and parsley in a bowl
• For the dressing combine olive oil red wine vinegar water and the remainder of the spices in a lidded jar
• Shake jar until dressing ingredients are thoroughly mixed
• Pour dressing over salad and mix ingredients until well coated
• Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving
• Serve salad on top of extra romaine or butter lettuce leaves for an attractive presentation
• Makes 4 main dish or 6 side-dish servings
• Variations on a Theme If fava beans are not available or not in season substitute 2 cups cooked cannellini white kidney or Great Northern white beans in the recipe