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La vignarola (Roman spring stew)

Broad beans, artichokes and asparagus, gently simmered in broth, then scattered with herbs. This is a dish made for spring.

By Lisa Featherby
  • 30 mins preparation
  • 30 mins cooking
  • Serves 4
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La vignarola
This Roman spring stew is lovely on its own with some bread, or as part of a spring lunch.

Ingredients

  • 8 globe artichokes, stalks trimmed
  • 400 gm each podded peas and broad beans (about 1.2kg unpodded)
  • 1½ tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra to serve
  • 4 spring onions, thickly sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 6 prosciutto slices, coarsely torn
  • 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and halved
  • 400 ml chicken or vegetable stock
  • 2 cups mint, coarsely chopped (loosely packed)
  • ¾ cup flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped (firmly packed)
  • Finely grated rind and juice of ½ lemon
  • To serve: crusty white bread

Method

Main
  • 1
    Blanch artichokes, in batches, until just tender (8-10 minutes). Cool slightly, peel away outer green leaves and trim tops by 2cm, then remove hairy choke with a teaspoon. Set aside.
  • 2
    Blanch peas and broad beans separately until just tender (2-4 minutes), refresh in iced water, drain, then peel broad beans and set aside.
  • 3
    Heat olive oil in a wide shallow saucepan over medium heat, add spring onion, garlic and prosciutto, sauté until tender (5-10 minutes), add artichoke, asparagus and stock, cover and simmer over low heat until artichoke is very tender (5-10 minutes). Add peas and beans, cover and simmer until very tender (3-5 minutes). Add mint, parsley, lemon rind and juice, cook until herbs wilt (1 minute). Drizzle with extra olive oil, serve warm with bread.

Notes

Drink Suggestion: Roman dry white such as Frascati. Drink suggestion by Max Allen