Sauteed Artichokes and Fava Beans

Fill a bowl with cold water and add the lemon juice. Working with 1 artichoke at a time, cut off the stem of the artichoke flush with the bottom. Snap off the dark green leaves until you reach the tender yellow inner leaves. Cut off the top one-third of the artichoke to remove the pointed tips. Cut the artichoke into quarters and, with a paring knife, trim away the fuzzy choke. As you work, drop each quarter into the bowl of lemon water to prevent the artichokes from discoloring.

In a heavy sauté pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the pancetta and sauté until lightly crisped, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, reduce the heat to medium-low and sauté until the garlic is softened, about 5 minutes. Drain the artichokes, reserving 1/2 cup (4 fl. oz./125 ml) of the reserved lemon water. Add the artichokes to the pan along with the reserved water, the wine, 1/2 tsp. salt and a little pepper. Raise the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Return the heat to medium-low, cover and cook until the artichokes are almost tender but still a little firm, 15 to 20 minutes.

Stir in the fava beans. Cover and cook until the fava beans are tender, about 10 minutes. Uncover, raise the heat to medium and cook until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 5 minutes longer. Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley. Transfer to a serving bowl, pour the pan juices over the top and serve immediately. Serves 4.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Rustic Italian, by Domenica Marchetti (Weldon Owen, 2011)