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We often eat ‘little snacks’ in the afternoons at weekends instead of proper lunches. Different kinds of crostini are one of my favourite choices and these simple, fresh-tasting and brightly-coloured fava bean, mint & ricotta ones don’t disappoint!
I’ve hesitated posting this fava bean, mint & ricotta crostini for a few weeks, not because I’ve fallen out with the recipe but because I’ve been letting myself get distracted by oozy, gooey and frankly a bit naughty things full of chocolate and peanuts and cream cheese (like this, this – oh, and this). But hey, let’s not get distracted again!
So I’ve decided that today is the day to give these humble but super tasty little toasts their moment, because a moment they do indeed deserve!!
Fava beans (seems weird calling them this because here they are well and truly called broad beans!) are one of those foods that I’ve seen in supermarket salads and thrown into recipes by the likes of Jamie Oliver over the last few years but have never got around to doing much with myself (let’s make that ‘doing anything with’).
But a few weeks ago, I had a bit of ‘fava bean/broad bean good fortune’ when I popped into a luxury supermarket in my city and found a little microwavable bag of them being sold off for a song at the end of day. ‘Hmmm, now I’m sure I could come up with something yummy to do with those’ I thought. I had a bit of ricotta cheese left over in my fridge and some fresh mint on my window sill and thus this simple and tasty little snack was born!
What a riveting little story, hey? 😉
Well, particularly riveting it may not be, but seriously now, I was more impressed with myself than I probably should have been when I was munching on this crostini. I’m a fan of ricotta cheese in any shape or form, but it really does contrast well with the sweet nutty-ness of the smashed-up beans. A bit of mint and lemon juice and zest adds another dimension of taste and a good added drizzle of really good quality olive oil just makes this a proper Mediterranean snack!
I ate at least 3 of these all to myself as a mid-morning snack and could have eaten at least 3 more. And why not? Nothing really to feel any guilt about here! I think they’d really shine though as a canapé or appetizer at a dinner party – they definitely seem posh enough to me.
So next time you go to the supermarket, don’t bypass those sexy broad beans like I used to!! Grab a pack or two, get popping them out of their skins (very satisfying, I can assure you!) and throw together some of these delicious crostini for a posh weekend snack!
Serves: 2
- a big handful of fava/broad beans
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- the zest of 1 lemon + a little of the juice
- about 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
- about 3 tablespoons ricotta cheese
- salt & pepper
- 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.
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.
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I really enjoy fava beans but I don’t know if I’ve ever used them in my own kitchen! These crostini look awesome! Especially with the ricotta!
I know, Ashley, I was the same, but this is such a quick tasty snack I’ll definitely be making it again … and seeing what else I can do with fava beans. Hope you had a great weekend!
Dear Helen, what a fresh and beautiful dish. It is such a healthy alternative to snacking too. Also perfect as appetizers for a summer gatherings. xo, Catherine
Hello Catherine! Thank you so much for the kind words! You’re right that these are a pretty healthy snack. I’m definitely going to make them when next entertaining this summer. I love the bright green!
This crostini looks gorgeous, Helen! This is such a creative idea to add in fava beans and mint. I love the flavor combination!
Thank you so much, Gayle! The fava beans and mint go really, really well and I hope you give these a go to find out for yourself! 🙂
So I’m the biggest fava bean fan, and if that’s in the title, I know I’m going to love it! Then I saw your photos, and WOW. These look so delicious, Helen, and this is my kind of snack!
Aw, thanks so much for the lovely words, Marcie! I’m pretty sure you’d like these then, as you’re such a fava bean fan! They go really really well with the mint and ricotta … really hope you do try them!
I haven’t had broad beans in a long time and now you’ve inspired me with this delicious recipe. I must try this.
Very happy to have inspired you, Janette! Do try … they’re just delicious!
Such pretty shots, Helen! Love watching your photography grow. Adore crostini any way I can get it.
Aw, thanks so much, Lori! Those sorts of compliments mean a lot to me. I must say my photography went through a ‘dodgy’ patch while I was struggling with the lack of light here in the winter, but now that summer’s here I’m ‘back in my flow’ a bit. Hopefully I can figure out the artificial light a bit more before next winter arrives! 🙂
Love finding new interesting recipes here Helen! Never cooked with fav beans, but will definitely try these amazing simple crostini! Pinning!
Thanks, Mira! You’ll love the fava beans – they are a bit like edamame, if you’ve ever tried those? It’s the colour I love the most!
Love this crostini, Helen! That colour is amazing! I’ve never tried fava beans before, but they sound delicious too. Love the feta cheese! Perfect summer appetiser!
Thanks, Jess! They’re broad beans – you can get them from M&S in a microwavable pack!
I LOVE fava beans and we’ll be getting some in our CSA share this week. I am SO trying this!!
Ohhh please do, Marissa! Pop back and let me know what you thought if you do … 🙂
Oh Helen, that bright green is GORGEOUS! I just love all of the fresh and zippy flavors on this crostini! Great photos too!
Hey thanks, Kathleen! I take a compliment from you on my photography as a compliment indeed 😉
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. 😉
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!
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!
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!
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! ;)).
Oh my goodness, now I will think of Hannibal too when I eat these … teeheehee! We call them broad beans too … thank goodness!
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 !
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! 🙂
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! 😀
Wow, you travel in style, Dini!! Fava beans taste amazing, don’t they? I love the texture and colour, too!
What a pretty appetizer! I love anything with ricotta on it too! So yummy.
Thank you, Kelley! I’m a big fan of ricotta, too, and it really does go wondefully on a crostini!
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 🙂
Hello Brian! Thanks so much for passing by, and really happy that you feel inspired to make this! 🙂
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? 🙂
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!
This looks so good! It’s been a while since I last had fava beans…
Hello, Kathleen! Hope you try this some time! It’s sooo good for something so simple.