Name: Broad bean, crisp pancetta and poached egg salad
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 300 gm podded broad beans (about 1kg unpodded); 10 thin slices flat mild pancetta; 2 tbsp white wine vinegar; 4 eggs, at room temperature; 300 gm podded peas (about 1kg unpodded); 1 cup each flat-leaf parsley and mint, torn (firmly packed); ½ cup dill, torn (firmly packed); Lemon vinaigrette; 2 tbsp lemon juice; 2 tsp caster sugar, or to taste; 80 ml extra-virgin olive oil (1/3 cup); 1 garlic clove, bruised

Broad bean, crisp pancetta and poached egg salad

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for broad bean, crisp pancetta and poached egg salad by Alex Kearns from Neutral Bay Bar & Dining and Glebe Point Diner.

Serves 4

Prep

30M

Cook

30M

Total

“Here you’ve got the luxury of breaking the egg yolk, mixing it through the salad, and noshing on the just-picked beans and peas.”

Ingredients

300 gm podded broad beans (about 1kg unpodded)

10 thin slices flat mild pancetta

2 tbsp white wine vinegar

4 eggs, at room temperature

300 gm podded peas (about 1kg unpodded)

1 cup each flat-leaf parsley and mint, torn (firmly packed)

½ cup dill, torn (firmly packed)

Lemon vinaigrette

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp caster sugar, or to taste

80 ml extra-virgin olive oil (1/3 cup)

1 garlic clove, bruised

Method

Main

1.For lemon vinaigrette, whisk lemon juice, sugar and a pinch of salt to combine in a bowl, then whisk in oil. Season to taste (it should be quite sweet). Add garlic, set aside.

2.Blanch broad beans until tender (3 minutes), then refresh and drain. Peel broad beans, set aside.

3.Heat a large non-stick frying pan over low heat, add pancetta in two batches and turn occasionally until very crisp (8-10 minutes). Drain on absorbent paper and set aside.

4.Bring a shallow saucepan of water to the simmer over low heat (small bubbles should just be forming on the pan surface), add vinegar and, one at a time, crack an egg into a cup then slide egg into water. Cook until soft-poached (3-4 minutes). Remove with a slotted spoon, drain and set aside.

5.Meanwhile, blanch peas until tender, adding broad beans to water during last 20 seconds to warm through (4-6 minutes; see cook’s notes p210). Drain, transfer to a bowl, add herbs and pancetta. Season to taste, add half the vinaigrette and toss to combine. Divide mixture among plates, top with poached eggs. Drizzle with remaining dressing, season egg to taste and serve warm.