and we breathe it in | broad bean dip

For three weeks over the Christmas period, nobody tended the Maitland St garden. The beans grew tall in our absence and we came back to a jungle, and a lot of broad beans to eat. Last year, when the lovely neighbours C and E moved out of Maitland St, we inherited their blender which we had previously borrowed often. Suddenly, a whole new range of recipes were possible: spice pastes, hummus, smoothies .. I'm not sure you'll ever see a smoothie recipe on here - does anyone ever measure things for smoothies?

However, for those of you lucky enough to have a blender, or a neighbour willing to loan you one, this broad bean dip is easy and delicious. It's a little spicy but tastes a bit like guacamole. I even brought some in for my workmates who said they didn't like broad beans but would try it anyway. They declared it delicious: "It doesn't even really taste of broad beans!"

broad bean dip

2 cups broad beans

juice of 2 lemons

1 clove garlic

1 small onion

1 tsp cumin

1/2 cup plain, unsweetened yoghurt

chilli flakes

sea salt

pepper

olive oil (optional)

If your broad beans are fresh, take them out of their pods. If their husks are leathery/grey, pop them out of those too. Put them in a bowl, and blanch them by pouring boiling water over them and leave for 2 minutes before draining. While the beans are cooking, chop the onion and garlic. Blend everything together. Usually I put the beans in first and add the lemon juice or yoghurt and spices second. If it's too thick, you can add a little olive oil or more lemon juice. I've never needed to because the yoghurt we use is quite liquid. If you use something thicker, like a greek-style yoghurt, you might find the oil is necessary.

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Maitland St. is a little cut off at the moment - we're without internet! Equal parts frustrating and liberating .. regular posting will return soon! In the meantime, if you're into bread baking, Amber's having a giveaway over at her blog that's worth checking out.

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title from nick cave - we no who u r. Terrible title but it's the beautiful first track of his most recent album "Push the Sky Away". I cannot stop listening to it. You can listen here if you like.