1 lb frozen or fresh edamame (soybeans) in the pod or 2 1/2 lb fresh fava beans in the pod, shelled
3 lb small boiling potatoes (preferably purple or red fingerling)
3 lb haricots verts (thin French green beans) or thin regular green beans
1/4 cup minced shallot
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1/4 to 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Have ready a large bowl of ice and cold water. Boil edamame or fava beans in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, 1 to 3 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to ice water. Shell edamame, or peel tough outer skins from fava beans. Bring potatoes and enough salted water to cover by 1 1/2 inches to a boil and cook at a bare simmer until almost tender, 15 to 20 minutes. (Potatoes will continue to cook a bit after being removed from water. Be careful not to overcook or potatoes will break apart when sliced.) Transfer with a slotted spoon to ice water to cool. Drain well. While potatoes are cooking, trim haricots verts and halve diagonally crosswise. Cook in 2 batches in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes (regular green beans will take longer to cook). Transfer to ice water to cool. Drain well. Just before serving, cut potatoes into 1/3-inch-thick slices and toss all ingredients together in a large bowl with salt and pepper to taste.

(from Gourmet, May 2000)