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Flatbread with Fava Beans, Cucumbers, and Burrata

This vibrant broad bean and burrata flatbread is a wonderful celebration of seasonal produce. The combination of creamy Italian cheese and zesty, crushed beans creates a sophisticated vegetarian dish that works beautifully as a light weekend lunch or a stylish starter for a garden party. By lightly mashing some of the beans while leaving others whole, you create a rustic texture that contrasts perfectly with the crisp, charred dough and the silky centre of the burrata.

Freshly pickled cucumbers add a bright acidity that cuts through the richness of the cheese, while toasted sesame seeds provide an unexpected but welcome depth of flavour. This recipe is highly adaptable; while it shines on an outdoor grill, you can just as easily use a griddle pan indoors. For a time-saving tip, the broad beans can be boiled and peeled up to three days in advance, making the final assembly a quick and effortless task.

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Ingredients for Flatbread with Fava Beans, Cucumbers, and Burrata

  • 475ml shelled fava beans (from about 900g pods)

  • Kosher salt

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for grill

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced

  • 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar

  • 1/2 Garlic-Herb Naan or 450g store-bought pizza dough, room temperature, halved

  • 2 (230g) balls burrata or fresh mozzarella, drained

  • Basil leaves (for serving)

  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

  • Flaky sea salt

Cook fava beans in a medium saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, about 4 minutes. Using a mesh sieve, transfer to a colander set in a bowl of ice water. Drain and peel. Combine lemon juice, 2 tablespoons oil, and half of fava beans in a medium bowl and lightly mash with a fork. Stir in remaining fava beans; season with kosher salt and pepper.

Combine cucumbers and vinegar in a medium bowl; season with kosher salt. Let sit until slightly softened, 10–12 minutes.

Prepare a grill for medium-high, indirect heat (for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side of grill; for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off); lightly oil grate. Working with 1 piece of dough at a time, gently stretch to about a 10x8" oval. Grill over direct heat, turning and rotating as needed, until bread is stiff and both sides are lightly charred, about 3 minutes total. Move to indirect heat to keep warm while you grill the remaining piece of dough.

Transfer flatbreads to a work surface. Tear burrata into pieces and divide between flatbreads; top with fava bean mixture, cucumbers, and basil. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, sea salt, and pepper.

Fava beans can be cooked 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 28 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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