Fava Bean and Mint Bruschetta (Printer View)

Bright fava and mint mash spooned over charred sourdough for an easy spring starter.

# What you'll need:

→ Vegetables & Herbs

01 - 300 g fresh or frozen fava beans, shelled
02 - 1 small clove garlic, minced
03 - 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
04 - Zest of 1/2 lemon
05 - 1 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped (optional)

→ Dairy

06 - 60 g ricotta cheese or goat cheese (optional for added creaminess)

→ Bread

07 - 4 thick slices sourdough bread

→ Pantry

08 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
09 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
10 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
11 - 1 tsp lemon juice

# Method:

01 - Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fava beans and boil for 2–3 minutes (if fresh) or 4–5 minutes (if frozen). Drain and plunge into ice water. Peel off and discard the tough outer skins.
02 - In a bowl, mash the peeled fava beans with a fork until coarse. Stir in garlic, mint, lemon zest, parsley (if using), 2 tbsp olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
03 - Brush sourdough slices lightly with the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil. Grill on a hot grill pan or barbecue for 2–3 minutes per side, until golden and charred.
04 - Optional: For extra creaminess, spread ricotta or goat cheese onto the grilled bread before topping with the fava bean mixture.
05 - Spoon the fava bean and mint mixture generously over the grilled sourdough. Serve immediately, garnished with extra mint if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This bruschetta tastes like spring on toast, with fresh mint waking up every bite.
  • It's quick to make but always manages to draw compliments no matter how casual the spread.
02 -
  • Forgetting to peel the outer skins means tough, chewy beans and a muddled texture – it’s worth the extra few minutes.
  • I discovered that grilling the bread just until charred, not burnt, transforms the whole dish from ordinary to irresistible.
03 -
  • Shell the fava beans ahead of time and keep them covered in the fridge to save time and limit mess when guests are around.
  • The secret to perfect texture is mashing only part of the beans, so you get both creamy and chunky bites in every slice.
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