Ricotta On Toast With Fava Beans And Mint

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Ricotta on toast? Yep. And it’s absolutely delicious when piled with a simple mix of fresh-tasting, brightly coloured fava beans and mint! You could say it’s a kind of (very) fancy beans on toast!

A close up of a fava bean, mint and ricotta crostini on a white rectangular plate - there are more in the background

Why fava beans are underrated

Fresh fava beans (otherwise known as broad beans) are one of those vegetables that don’t get enough attention.

Some people have been put off them (Mr. Scrummy included) by well-intentioned mothers boiling them to a tasteless mush. Others – myself included – just may not have many ideas about what to do with them.

Here’s one very simple idea. If you’re on the fence about fava beans, I think this ricotta toast idea might change your mind!

What’s so great about this?

  • It’s simple but fancy, which makes it perfect for appetizer bites, classy party plates, healthy snacks, and more.
  • You only need 7 ingredients plus seasoning.
  • It’s quick and easy to make, not to mention light and healthy.
  • The mild ricotta cheese goes really well with the sweet nutty flavour of the smashed-up beans. Mint and lemon add another dimension of taste as does a drizzle of good quality olive oil. Fan of the Mediterranean diet? This one’s for you!
Someone taking a broad bean, mint and ricotta crostini off a plate of 4 with a lemon and checked cloth in the background

About the ingredients

As already mentioned, you need just 7 fairly basic ingredients plus seasoning to make these.

bread: You need smallish and thick slices of Italian or French style bread such as ciabatta or French baguette.

ricotta cheese: Any works, although I prefer the one with a bit of texture. So not the ‘smooth’ one.

olive oil: Good quality! Just a couple of tablespoons.

a lemon: Mostly the zest, but a little squeeze of the juice too.

fresh mint leaves: To make the whole thing sing!

a clove of garlic: Halve it. Then wipe over the toasted bread, bruschetta style!

ricotta cheese: Just a few tablespoons. Spread thickly over the bread.

How to cook fava beans/broad beans

There are 2 ways to make these. Take your pick!

Method 1: BOIL (in the skins) for 5 minutes. Drain. Then pop out of the skins (very satisfying!).

Method 2: MICROWAVE (still in the skins). Place in a microwave safe bowl or container with a bit of water. Cover with plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Drain and pop out of the skins as above.

How to make these

Like all of the best simple but classy appetizers, there are just a few steps to making these yummy little ricotta crostini:

Step 1: Cook fava beans/broad beans as described above. Cool and pop out of skins.

Step 2: Mix cooked beans with chopped fresh mint, olive oil and lemon zest and a bit of juice.

Step 3: Toast bread slices and wipe with cut side of a garlic clove.

Step 4: Spread toast with ricotta cheese. Pile bean mixture on top. Garnish with more mint!

So simple. But look how gorgeous they are!

An overhead shot of 4 fava bean, mint and ricotta crostini on a white rectangular plate

How to serve them

It’s best to serve these immediately when the toast is crispy and warm.

You can however prepare the fava bean topping ahead of time if you like.

I think these are quite adaptable. Serve them:

  • as a party plate
  • as a classy but simple dinner appetizer
  • as a healthy and classy light lunch or snack
  • as a fancy breakfast or brunch

Recipe FAQ

What if broad beans/fava beans aren’t in season?

Fava beans/Broad beans are in season in the summer.

If you can’t get fresh fava or broad beans, feel free to use frozen broad beans for this recipe. Just follow the cooking instructions on the bag and pop out of the skin when cooked as with fresh.

Alternatively, this recipe works very very well with edamame, too! Again, frozen or fresh works!

I’m a vegan. How can I make this crostini recipe vegan?

I’m glad you asked! I think this would be really delicious using some kind of hummus instead of the ricotta cheese. I have a hummus with pine nuts recipe, or you could buy some kind of pre-made dip.

Of course the simplest way to make it vegan is to use a vegan soft cheese. Pesto would work too!

Do I have to boil the broad beans?

No, not at all! You can microwave them instead if you like 😉

Just place in a bowl with a tiny bit of water, cover with cling film with a hole pierced in it and microwave for 3 minutes. Then cool, drain and pod as you would if you boiled them.

More ricotta toast ideas

I love love love this idea. But there are so many other things you can do with ricotta toast. Just spread toast thickly with ricotta cheese and then add:

  • a drizzle of honey, chopped nuts and perhaps a few slices of banana and a sprinkle of cinnamon
  • sliced avocado and toasted pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, or pine nuts
  • slow roasted tomatoes and fresh basil (in fact check out this slow-roasted tomatoes and ricotta bruschetta recipe)
  • fresh figs and honey (when figs are in season)
  • strawberries and black pepper (it’s good, I promise!). In fact, any fruit works…
  • sundried tomatoes and olives
A close up of a fava bean, mint and ricotta crostini on a white rectangular plate with a green checked cloth under it

More delicious crostini and bruschetta recipes

  • Ever tried a classic Spanish pan con tomate? Think a Spanish version of bruschetta. It’s incredible in its simplicity!

Got leftover ricotta? Try this 20-minute farfalle pasta with prosciutto, broccoli and ricotta recipe!

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4 broad bean crostini on a rectangular white plate with a checked cloth underneath
5 from 1 vote

Fava bean, mint and ricotta crostini

Simple crostini topped with ricotta and nutty fava beans flavoured with lemon and mint. I promise you, these are absolutely delicious – and no effort at all to make (bonus!).
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 2

Ingredients 
 

  • a big handful of fava/broad beans
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lemon zest + a little of the juice
  • 10 mint leaves, roughly chopped
  • 2 thick slices of freshly baked bread e.g. sourdough, ciabatta OR 4 smaller slices e.g. from a French stick or smaller ciabatta loaf
  • ½ a clove of garlic
  • 3 tablespoons ricotta cheese
  • salt & pepper

Instructions 

  • Boil the fava/broad beans for 5 minutes (or microwave – see note below), then rinse under cold water and drain. Then squeeze the beans out of their skins and place in a bowl.
  • Add the olive oil, lemon zest, a couple of squeezes of lemon juice and most of the mint and mix well.
  • Toast the bread on both sides, then wipe the top side quickly with the cut side of the garlic.
  • Spread the bread generously with the ricotta, then top with the fava/broad bean mixture. Grind over salt & pepper to taste, then garnish with the rest of the mint. Serve immediately while still warm.

Notes

Preparing the broad beans: You can microwave the fava/broad beans instead if you like. Just place in a bowl with a tiny bit of water, cover with cling film with a hole pierced in it and microwave for 3 minutes. Then cool, drain and pod as described above.

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 167mg, Potassium: 177mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 315IU, Vitamin C: 30.2mg, Calcium: 111mg, Iron: 1.6mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Helen Schofield

Don't expect to find anything fussy or complicated here. Just QUICK, EASY & (mostly!) HEALTHY recipes from the Mediterranean and beyond. ENJOY!

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40 Comments

  1. Hi, I’m Ivan Majhen and I’m live in Chippenham, UK. This recipe looks so beautiful and I think it’s tested so yummy. But where I can buy beans?

    1. Hi Ivan! So glad you like the look of this recipe – it really is delicious. Fava beans are also sometimes called ‘broad beans’ (definitely in the UK that’s what they are called). If you can’t find any in the fresh section of the supermarket, you’ll definitely be able to find frozen ones. Frozen will work fine! just cook according to the packet instructions, then peel and use the insides only. Enjoy!

  2. This looks so good! It’s been a while since I last had fava beans…

    1. Hello, Kathleen! Hope you try this some time! It’s sooo good for something so simple.

  3. Now, I’d be “more impressed with myself than I probably should have been when I was munching on this crostini” too – fava beans and ricotta is a winning combo – should I dare say that, at times, they are almost comparable to chocolate and PB? 🙂

    1. Actually, I think I would agree with you, Shashi! This really is a winning combo, and I feel like I could knock them back like chocolate and pb … strangely!

  4. Now that does sound really good and we look to have a healthy crop of Fava beans this year, will definitely be munching on this 🙂

    1. Hello Brian! Thanks so much for passing by, and really happy that you feel inspired to make this! 🙂

  5. What a pretty appetizer! I love anything with ricotta on it too! So yummy.

    1. Thank you, Kelley! I’m a big fan of ricotta, too, and it really does go wondefully on a crostini!

  6. Ces tartines me font penser que l’été n’est pas très loin ! Sa couleur, sa gaité, tout mes plaît dans ces petites merveilles ! Toi a bien fait laissé d’un côté les gourmandises pour un petit moment !

    1. Merci, Eva! Dieu merci, l’ete n’est pas loin! J’ai tres envie d’en faire plus de ces tartines … et les manger dans le jardin avec un verre de vin blanc! 🙂

  7. It’s definitely spring when these beauties come around! Every time I hear the words fava beans I think of Hannibal Lecter so we tend to call them broad beans in our household (although it does make me wonder what they’re like with a nice chianti! ;)).

    1. Oh my goodness, now I will think of Hannibal too when I eat these … teeheehee! We call them broad beans too … thank goodness!

  8. oh wow!! This looks delicious!! I fell inlove with Fava Beans when they served it to me as Airplane food (Fancy that??) but this looks SO much more delicious than that :DPlus I LOVE crostini so this is a WIN WIN for me! 😀

    1. Wow, you travel in style, Dini!! Fava beans taste amazing, don’t they? I love the texture and colour, too!

  9. Speaking of Jamie Oliver, does he cater to use Yanks and call them Fava beans, too, I wonder? 😉 But these little bites of goodness are SO PRETTY! I love that green color. And I love that you just decided to smash them up and put them on bread and ricotta. Genius, Helen, and it comes so naturally to you! And with the garlic & mint… yum. I have a mint plant growing on my patio now which is fortunate because I hate buying the stuff at the grocery store, it’s just a pain and doesn’t last long enough. But now I always have it around. Well done my friend, I love this appetizer! Pinning!

    1. Meggan, you are TOO KIND! Thank you for your lovely words … mint spreads brilliantly in gardens. Unfortunately I don’t have a garden right now, but I sooo wish I did so I could grow herbs in it at least! I’m trying to keep some mint on my windowsill, but to be honest it isn’t doing so well. Better than nothing but yes, let’s hope it isn’t too many years before I get that garden!

  10. This is totally my kind of food! I have a theory that pretty much any veggie can be made into a crostini / bruschetta. I made something similar the other day but I also had some asparagus piled on top. It was a rip off from Jamie Oliver’s restaurant!! This looks better than Jamie’s. AND I bet you didn’t pay $12 for 2 slices. 😉

    1. Hi, Nagi! I think you might be right about that theory! Add a little tangy cheese and you’ve got one very delicious little snack …
      Happy to hear this is similar to (but better than!)a Jamie recipe. I actually pinched the recipe for this from a broadsheet newspaper, just to get the proportions right, and I think I remember reading that it’s popular in a particular good restaurant. Anyway, glad you like it. And nope, certainly won’t cosst $12 a slice!