Hollywood star Matt Damon and other A-list actors are currently in Messinia for the filming of Christopher Nolan’s movie Odyssey. A few days ago, Damon, along with some crew members, dined at a restaurant in Gialova, where he sampled various traditional Greek dishes. However, there was one dish he enjoyed so much that he even asked about its preparation.

That dish was none other than the simple yet incredibly flavorful fava (yellow split pea puree). We can’t stop picturing Matt Damon returning to the U.S. and the first thing he does—whether with his own hands or those of his personal chef—is make homemade fava.

In case he hasn’t found the recipe yet, here’s how to make it, so that both he and you can recreate the Hollywood star’s favorite dish from his stay in Greece during the filming of this highly anticipated movie.

Ingredients

(Servings: 6-8)

• 250g yellow split peas (fava)
• 1 medium onion
• 1 carrot
• 1.5 – 1.7 liters hot water (ratio of water to fava is about 6:1 for an uncovered pot simmering)
• 40ml extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Step 1

Chop the onion and grate the carrot. In a deep, non-stick pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat and sauté the onion and carrot for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the fava and sauté it with the onion-carrot mixture for about 2 minutes. Then, pour in most of the hot water (1.2 – 1.4 liters), reserving the rest in case it’s needed later.

Step 2

Simmer the fava, stirring occasionally. After about 20 minutes, check it more frequently to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom as the water reduces. Add salt and pepper during this process.

Step 3

When the bubbles on the surface become smaller and start splattering—indicating that most of the water has evaporated—check if the fava has softened. This typically happens around 35-40 minutes, but cooking time can vary. If the fava isn’t completely soft and the water is nearly gone, add small amounts (100ml at a time) of hot water as needed until the split peas have fully broken down.

Once the fava is thick and fully cooked, remove it from the heat and use an immersion blender to puree it until smooth and velvety. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.

Step 4

Serve with extra virgin olive oil and raw onion, caramelized onions, or simply with a drizzle of good-quality olive oil—either way, it’s delicious!