Fava Bean Mint Bruschetta (View Print Version)

Creamy fava and mint topping on smoky grilled sourdough — a bright, easy spring appetizer for four.

# 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 -
  • The fava bean smash is so satisfyingly bright that even skeptics will go back for seconds.
  • A grilled bread base means you get irresistible crunch with every bite, and it can be made in under half an hour.
02 -
  • Skipping the ice bath after blanching the beans leads to dull color and sticky skins (I learned the hard way when pressed for time).
  • Fresh mint loses its spirit if chopped too early—prep it right before mixing in for the most impact.
03 -
  • Blanch and peel extra fava beans and keep them in the fridge—leftovers make incredible pasta or salad toppers.
  • Rub a cut garlic clove over the warm toast before assembling for an extra lick of sharpness that’ll keep everyone guessing.