The pan-fried agretti are a light and quick side dish to prepare, perfect for accompanying meat and fish main courses. Also known as monk’s beard because they resemble the long beards of Capuchin monks, this type of vegetable is found in the early days of spring.
A few weeks ago, I steamed the agretti and then seasoned them with oil, salt, and lemon. They were a huge hit with the family. So, given their very affordable price, I decided to use them to prepare another side dish. Today I cooked them in a pan with garlic, oil, and chili pepper. The result is a light and tasty side dish, also excellent for seasoning a pasta dish.
To preserve their bright green color even after pressure cooking, remember to immerse them in plenty of ice water for a few minutes. Once cooled, you can cook them in a pan. Curious to find out how to prepare them? Then read the recipe, because the pan-fried agretti will be ready in a click!
If you’re interested in other spring side dish recipes, also read:
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 3 people
- Cooking methods: Instant pot, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring
- Energy 63.44 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 1.37 (g) of which sugars 0.91 (g)
- Proteins 0.78 (g)
- Fat 6.24 (g) of which saturated 0.88 (g)of which unsaturated 0.01 (g)
- Fibers 0.93 (g)
- Sodium 769.47 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 55 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 10.5 oz agretti (weight of vegetables to be cleaned)
- 1 cup water
- 1.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 fresh chili pepper
- salt (to taste)
Tools
- Pressure Cooker electric
- Steamer Basket
- Pan
- Basin
- Cutting Board
- Knife
Steps
First, clean the agretti. Place the vegetables on a cutting board and with a knife, remove the lower part of the roots. Alternatively, you can break a few agretti at a time by hand. Then, pour water into a basin with some baking soda and stir. Place the agretti inside and soak them for a few minutes. Change the water in the basin at least 2 or 3 times, repeating the same operation until it becomes clean. Then rinse them very well under running water and drain.
Now proceed with the steaming in the Instant Pot. Pour the water into the pot and place the basket. Arrange the cleaned agretti inside the basket and close the pot, moving the lever to sealing. Set the cooking to steam for 1 minute, and after the cooking time, activate the quick release by moving the lever to venting. Open the pot and transfer the vegetables to a basin with ice. This way, they will keep their bright green color.
Meanwhile, clean the garlic cloves. Peel them and cut them in half. Then remove the less digestible inner core and brown them in a pan with oil and chopped chili pepper. Then add the agretti, adjust the salt, and cook for a couple of minutes over medium heat, stirring.
The pan-fried agretti are ready! Serve them hot or warm to accompany meat or fish main courses.
Storage and Tips for Pan-Fried Agretti
Pan-fried agretti can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 days in a container with a lid.
FAQ Questions and Answers for Pan-Fried Agretti
What can I substitute for fresh chili pepper?
You can use dried chili pepper or replace it with pepper.
