Fava Bean Mint Bruschetta (Printable)

Creamy fava and mint spread on charred sourdough—zesty, herb-forward, ready in 30 minutes.

# 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

# How to make it:

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.

# Recipe Expert Tips:

01 -
  • There&aposs a secret brightness from the mint and lemon that wakes up every bite—it&aposs always the first thing friends ask about.
  • The smoky, charred bread makes the creamy beans taste like a special occasion, even when it&aposs just a weekday lunch.
02 -
  • Don&apost try to rush the bean peeling—it&aposs tempting, but those tough skins will ruin the silky texture if left on.
  • Add lemon juice last to preserve that beautiful green color; add it too soon and things start looking dull.
03 -
  • If your fava beans taste starchy, a generous pinch of salt and lemon juice brightens them up right away.
  • Finishing with a drizzle of high quality olive oil right before serving makes everything taste luxurious.
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