• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Hungry Bites
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Categories
    • Main Dishes
      • Beef and veal
      • Chicken and poultry
      • Lamb and goat
      • Pork
      • Fish and seafood
      • Other meats
      • Legumes
      • Salad meals
    • Side Dishes
    • Appetizers and meze
    • Pasta and rice
    • Soups and stews
    • One pan - One pot
    • Air fryer
    • Salads
    • Desserts and sweets
      • Cakes
      • Cheesecakes
      • Cupcakes and muffins
      • cookies
      • Chocolate
      • ice cream
      • Pies, bars and tarts
      • Puddings and creams
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Bread
    • Drinks
    • Dietary
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Gluten Free
      • Healthy
  • The Mediterranean Diet
  • About me
    • Contact me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • By Category
  • MDiet
  • About me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • By Category
    • MDiet
    • About me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Gluten Free

    Yellow split pea & vegetable puree (Greek Fava)

    Published: Jan 26, 2018 · Modified: Jan 16, 2020 by Makos

    Go to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Greek Fava is made with yellow split pea and vegetable puree. It’s an extra healthy, vegan recipe usually served as an appetizer.

    Yellow split pea & vegetable puree (Greek Fava)

    This traditional Greek recipe for yellow split pea puree is the epitome of the Mediterranean diet. Greek Fava is a nutritious, plant-based, and extremely healthy dish that also happens to be vegan and gluten-free, something that makes it ideal for a lot of people who follow a specific diet. Legumes are the base of the Mediterranean diet, and in most cases, they’re cooked with few but fresh and local ingredients, and always with extra care! Except this fava, another example of this cooking philosophy are these Greek traditional baked chickpeas (Revithada) which will surprise you with their sweet, earthy flavor and their incredibly soft texture 🙂

    Yellow split pea & vegetable puree (Greek Fava) 2

    The most common recipe for Greek fava is made from yellow split peas and maybe a carrot. Here, some extra ingredients add depth and complexity and totally transform the flavor profile of the yellow split peas making them extra tasty, especially when you serve the puree with lots of freshly squeezed lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, some capers and Kalamata olives! But in case you want a recipe closer to the one they serve in almost every little Greek tavern, try this Yellow split pea puree. You can serve this with sautéed mushrooms and caramelized onions like the recipe suggests or with a simple drizzle of olive oil and some finely chopped red onion if you want to stay true to the Greek tradition.

    Yellow split pea & vegetable puree (Greek Fava) 3

    The most famous fava of all is Santorini fava. Santorini (or Thira) is an island in the southern Aegean Sea which happens to be one of the top destinations in Greece and among the most romantic destinations in the world. If I remember correctly, it’s also a very popular wedding destination!  The island is essentially what remains after an enormous volcanic eruption which created the current geological caldera. Because of its unique ecology, its anhydrous climate, and its volcanic ash soil, Santorini is home to unique and prized produce such as the white eggplants, capers and caper leaves, and fava. Well-known are also Santorini’s wines and it just so happens that there’s a sweet wine pannacotta recipe on this blog with Vinsanto wine as the key ingredient (and no gelatin!) 🙂

    Yellow split pea & vegetable puree (Greek Fava) 5

    Some notes/tips:

    • Rinse split peas very well under running water using a large sieve. This will prevent any gunk from forming at the surface of the pot during cooking.
    • Smoked paprika gives an extra dimension to this dish, so try not to omit it!
    • Real Greek fava is made from a variety of yellow split peas called lathouri (Lathyrus Clymenum) which is very very tasty, so if you can find some you must definitely use that! However, other split pea varieties will give good results, but with differences in flavor.
    • Greek Fava is usually served as a side or meze. But it also makes a really nice lunch!

    Yellow split pea & vegetable puree (Greek Fava) 4

    You may also like these similar recipes:

    Tuscan style white beans

    Quinoa and bean lunch salad

    Share this post if you liked it (share buttons at the top!) and don’t forget to subscribe for new recipes or follow me on Instagram,   Pinterest,   Facebook

    Yellow split pea & vegetable puree (Greek Fava) 6

    Recipe

    Print

    Yellow split pea & vegetable puree (Greek Fava)

    This Greek Fava is made with yellow split pea and vegetable puree. It’s an extra healthy, vegan recipe usually served as an appetizer.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Active Time50 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer, Side, Starter
    Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
    Keyword: Fava, Greek, Yellow split pea puree
    Yield: 4 -6 (as a side)
    Author: The Hungry Bites

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup yellow split peas (lathouri variety)
    • 2-3 cups water
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 small onion, chopped
    • 1 small piece of leek, the white part, about 2 inches long, chopped
    • 1 small bunch of parsley tied with some twine like a bouquet
    • 1 small carrot, grated
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 2 cloves
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • ½ teaspoon thyme
    • ½ teaspoon cumin
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

    • ½ teaspoon thyme or savory or oregano
    • 1-2 tablespoons capers
    • ¼ cup Kalamata olives
    • Freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste
    • 2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • Optional: pita bread, chopped red onion, and ouzo!

    Instructions

    • Transfer the split peas to a sieve and rinse very well under running water for 2-3 minutes. Drain well.
    • In a medium-sized pot add the olive oil, the onion, the leek, and the carrot and cook at medium/high temperature until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the split peas, the pepper, the thyme, the smoked paprika, the cumin, the cloves, and the bay leaf and cook for 3-4 minutes.
    • Add the 2 cups of water, the sugar, and the parsley and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover the pot and simmer for about 50 minutes or until split peas are very soft and tender, almost mushy. Check the pot from time to time and if necessary add enough water to almost cover the peas.
    • When the split peas are ready, discard the parsley, the bay leaf, and the cloves and puree with an immersion blender (or in a food processor), until smooth. Taste and add salt to your preference.
    • Serve the fava on a large plate, sprinkle with thyme or savory, some capers, olives, lots of olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Eat!

    If you like this recipe, Pin it!

    Yellow split pea & vegetable puree (Greek Fava) 7

    More Appetizers and meze

    • Air fryer Brussels sprouts profile image.
      Air fryer Brussels sprouts recipe (3 ways)
    • Tabbouleh salad thumbnail.
      Tabbouleh (tabouli) salad
    • Cheese platter
      Make a Cheese Board in 5 simple steps
    • Israeli couscous salad thumbnail.
      Israeli couscous salad




    Oven baked swordfish featured image.

    Oven baked swordfish recipe with lemon vinaigrette

    Easy coffee ice cream featured image.

    Easiest coffee ice cream recipe (no-churn, no eggs)

    See All Recipes →

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Akhila@Pepper Delight

      January 26, 2018 at 10:27 pm

      Yellow split peas are one among the staple foods in Indian cuisine too. This looks brilliant... Pinned

      Reply
      • Makos

        January 28, 2018 at 9:25 pm

        Thank you Akhila!!!

        Reply
    2. Albert Bevia

      January 29, 2018 at 5:59 pm

      This truly looks stunning, like I want to make this right now, I love everything about this, from the spices that you used to the capers..amazing recipe

      Reply
      • Makos

        January 31, 2018 at 8:09 pm

        Aw, thank you so much! 🙂

        Reply
    3. heather (delicious not gorgeous)

      January 31, 2018 at 7:42 pm

      this sounds like such a delicious appetizer! my family usually has unhealthy apps, so this would be good to introduce some balance. and i love that picture of you sprinkling the capers on top!

      Reply
      • Makos

        January 31, 2018 at 8:11 pm

        Thank you Heather!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    author profile image.

    Hi, I’m Makos. I make traditional Mediterranean recipes more accessible to modern people. Sometimes I'll add a twist. Take a look!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Featured image of a strawberry milkshake without ice cream.
      Best strawberry milkshake recipe without ice cream
    • Oven baked swordfish featured image.
      Oven baked swordfish recipe with lemon vinaigrette
    • Easy coffee ice cream featured image.
      Easiest coffee ice cream recipe (no-churn, no eggs)
    • Creamy mushroom risotto without wine, featured image.
      Best creamy mushroom risotto recipe without wine
    • Espresso freddo in a glass, featured image.
      Freddo espresso recipe (easy Greek iced coffee)
    • Two bottles with white wine. The one with Chenin Blanc and the other with Chardonnay. Featured image.
      Chenin Blanc vs Chardonnay wine - A comparison guide
    • A bottle of unfiltered extra virgin olive oil.
      Unfiltered vs filtered olive oil - which is better?
    • Chianti vs Sangiovese featured image.
      Chianti vs Sangiovese - A Guide to Italian wine

    Easter Recipes

    • Greek pea and potato stew (Vegan) feat
      Greek pea and potato stew (Vegan)
    • Taramasalata thumbnail.
      Taramasalata without bread
    • Easy Greek brown lentil soup (vegan) feat
      Easy Mediterranean lentil soup recipe (fakes)
    • Greek traditional baked chickpeas (Revithada) f
      Greek traditional baked chickpeas (Revithada)
    • Roasted goat leg in the oven with potatoes. featured image.
      Greek roasted goat (or lamb) leg recipe
    • Tsoureki thumbnail
      Tsoureki – Greek Easter Bread
    • Greek ceremonial bread (Artos) feat2
      Greek ceremonial bread recipe (Artos)
    • Chocolate stuffed Greek Easter bread (Tsoureki gemisto) feat
      Chocolate stuffed Greek Easter bread (Tsoureki gemisto)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • YouTube

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2023 The Hungry Bites