Avocado, Quinoa, and Fava Bean Salad

I had plans to make this with the beans, but that plan fell through. Even without the beans though, this was a lovely side. The one thing I might change is considering cutting back on the cumin. It didn't work for me quite as well in the mix. I served this as a side to the chicken and haloumi, but it could easily stand on its own.

One year ago: Chicken with Chiles
Two years ago: Fettucine, Pine Nuts, and Cilantro
Three years ago: Fettucine Alfredo
Four years ago: Spinach Pomegranate Salad

Avocado, Quinoa, and Fava Bean Salad (from Plenty)

Ingredients
200g quinoa
500g shelled fava beans
2 medium lemons
2 small ripe avocados
2 garlic cloves, crushed
200g breakfast radishes, halved lengthwise
50g purple radish cress (or small purple basil leaves or watercress)
1 tbsp ground cumin
75 ml olive oil
1/4 tsp chili flakes
salt and pepper

1. Place quinoa in saucepan with plenty of water, bring to boil and simmer for 9 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, and leave to dry.
2. Bring pot of water to boil, add fava beans, bring back to boil, drain, refresh with cold water, and leave to dry. Discard skins.
3. Remove skin from lemons and place in bowl. Juice lemons into bowl.
4. Peel, stone, and thinly slice avocado, adding it to the lemon juice.
5. Add dry quinoa to the bowl along with fava beans, garlic, radishes, cress, cumin, olive oil, chili flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss and serve.

Spaghetti with French Breakfast Radishes, Bacon, and Greens

This is a quick and easy dinner recipes that's surprisingly good. I mostly made it to use up some radishes, but I'm so glad I stumbled upon this dish. Warning, the recipe below makes two servings.

One year ago: Apricot Plum Crisp
Two years ago: Raspberry Cheesecake Pots

Spaghetti with French Breakfast Radishes, Bacon, and Greens (from Radically Simple)

Ingredients
170g spaghetti
several large bunches large French breakfast radishes, greens included
4 strips bacon
2 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta 12 minutes until just tender.
2. Meanwhile, separate radishes from greens and slice 1/8" thick to yield 1 cup. Measure out 3 cups of packed radish greens and coarsely chop.
3. Cut bacon into 1/3" strips.
4. Cook bacon in large saute pan over high heat for 3 minutes until fat is rendered and bacon is soft.
5. Add oil, chopped radish leaves, and sliced radishes to bacon. Cook until greens wilt and radishes soften, 5 minutes.
6. Drain pasta. Add to radishes and cook 2 minutes.
7. Toss with half of cheese and coarsely cracked black pepper.
8. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and serve.

Stewed Radishes with Tamarind

This is a simple side curry that's surprisingly good. It came out a little on the salty side for us, so go easy on the salt if you don't usually oversalt things.

One year ago: Big Crumb Coffee Cake with Rhubarb (still a favourite!)
Two years ago: Broccoli, Tomato, and Goat Cheese Pasta

Stewed Radishes with Tamarind (from 660 Curries)

Ingredients
2 tbsp canola oil
6 whole cloves
2 - 4 dried red Thai or cayenne chiles
2 cinnamon sticks
10 - 12 medium red radishes, ends trimmed, cut in half lengthwise
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp coarse salt (or less)
1/2 tsp tamarind paste

1. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add cloves, chiles, and cinnamon and cook until sizzling, 10 - 20 seconds.
2. Add radishes and lower heat to medium. Stir-fry 1 - 2 minutes.
3. Cover pan and simmer, stirring occasionally until fork tender, 15 - 20 minutes.
4. Stir in sugar, salt, and tamarind and simmer uncovered for 3 - 5 minutes.
5. Remove whole spices if desired and serve.