Dough

1. In a food processor, pulse flour, butter, and salt until butter is pea-size. Slowly add 1/2 cup very cold water through the feed tube and pulse just until dough comes together, adding another tablespoon water if needed. Turn dough onto a work surface and press into a mound. Cut off one-fourth of dough, form both portions into flat disks, wrap airtight in wax paper, and chill at least 2 hour and up to 2 days.

Filling

1. Prepare an ice water bath. Shell the fava beans discarding the tough husks. Boil the fava beans in salted water for 2 minutes or so until the bright green beans starts to turn pale yellow. Drain the beans and plunge into the ice water bath to cool. Finally, pinch the fava beans and using your fingernail, free the super-green fava bean from the interior shell into a bowl. You might search for a Youtube video to see this process. It’s the love of Italian grandmothers!!
2. Remove the mint from the stems. Stack the leaves and thinly slice with a sharp knife.
3. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment installed, add the ricotta cheese and eggs and mix until combined.
4. Add the remaining cheese and mix to loosely combine. Don’t allow the mixture to become a paste. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust the seasoning.
5. Finally, add the shelled fava beans and mint and gently combine. Don’t over mix.

Assembly

1. Place the larger piece of dough on a floured surface. Moving quickly, roll into a circle about 14 in. across. Lay dough in 9-inch springform pan, pressing on bottom and up sides, and allowing excess dough to hang over edge.
2. Spoon the prepared filling into the dough-lined pan patting it down gently.
3. Roll out the remaining piece of dough in the same manner as before to form the top crust.
4. Lay the top crust on the pan. With your fingers, press the edges of dough in the pan and the dough circle. Fold the dough into the spring-form pan so that when you release the torta from the pan, that the crust will not overhang and break.
5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees with a rack set on lowest level. Whisk an egg yolk with a little water and brush some over top of torta.
6. Bake until golden brown, about 50 minutes. If the edges begin to brown too fast, cover the torta with a loose piece of aluminum foil.
7. Let cool on a rack for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
8. Carefully release the torta from the pan, then loosen from the bottom of the pan and lift pan off torta. Cut into wedges and serve at room temperature.