Pasta tossed with fresh fava beans, pecorino, and mint captures Italian spring. A vegetarian high protein mediterranean dish that's fresh, seasonal, and perfect for family dinners.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until just al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta water and drain the pasta.
While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute—do not brown.
Add fava beans to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes until tender but still bright green. Adjust heat to prevent overcooking.
Add drained pasta to the skillet with fava beans and garlic. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
Remove from heat. Stir in grated pecorino Romano and chopped mint. Season with salt and black pepper. Mix thoroughly and serve immediately.