White Bean N Olive Toasts Recipes

WHITE BEAN AND OLIVE DIP

Steps:

• Toast pine nuts in a skillet over medium heat, shaking skillet once, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool, and chop coarsely. Toast cumin seeds in the same skillet over medium heat until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Pulse beans, lemon juice, mayonnaise, cayenne, and cumin in a food processor until combined. With the machine running, add oil in a slow stream, processing until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in pine nuts and olives, and season with salt. Serve with crackers and carrot sticks.

TOASTS WITH WHITE BEANS AND RICOTTA SALATA

Steps:

• Rinse and drain the beans and put in bowl. Add the parsley, lemon zest and juice, and the oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Top each bread slice with some of the bean mixture, then top each with a small crumble of ricotta. Serve immediately.

TUSCAN WHITE BEANS WITH OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• Sort the beans to make sure they are free of stones or other debris. Rinse, then cover with cold water, refrigerate, and soak overnight. The next day, drain the beans, place them in a large pot, and cover with the stock. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer the beans for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until they are tender. Add 1 teaspoon of salt in the final 15 minutes of cooking. The addition of salt earlier in the cooking process will result in tough beans.
• Remove the beans with a slotted spoon and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add all the remaining seasoning and other ingredients to the warm beans in the bowl and toss together. Adjust the salt and add freshly ground pepper to taste. Serve warm or chilled.

RED SNAPPER FILLETS ON GARLIC TOASTS W/ ARUGULA WHITE-BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Put bread slices on a large baking sheet, brush both sides with olive oil (about 6 tbsp), and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Broil bread on both sides until golden and crunchy, about 2 minutes per side. When toasts are cool enough to handle, rub each on one side with garlic halves. Lower heat to 325 degrees.
• Zest 1 lemon (to yield 1 tsp zest) and squeeze half of it (to yield 2 tsp juice). Cut other lemon into wedges. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 3/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice, and 2 tbsp olive oil. Add beans and toss gently to mix. Set aside.
• With a very sharp knife, make shallow slashes about 1 inch apart in skin of snapper fillets. Season fillets with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 4 fillets skin side down, reduce heat to medium, and cook 5 to 6 minutes, pressing often with spatula to keep them as flat as possible; turn over and cook another 2 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet and reserve pan juices in a bowl. Wipe pan clean with paper towels and cook remaining fillets the same way, reserving pan juices and transferring to baking sheet. Put fish in oven and cook until done, about 8 minutes (cut to check).
• Add arugula and tomatoes to beans and toss gently but thoroughly. Divide salad among 8 plates, arranging in center.
• Set toasts, garlicky side up, on salads and top toasts with snapper fillets, skin side up. Drizzle each fillet with a bit of pan juice, then top with about 1 tbsp tapenade and a parsley sprig, and a drizzle of olive oil. Garnish each plate with a lemon wedge. Drizzle some olive oil over each.
• Notes: Wash the arugula the night before and chill, wrapped in a kitchen towel and stored in a resealable plastic bag. Make the toasts (grilled instead of broiled, if you like) a day ahead and keep in an airtight container. The vinaigrette can be made up to a week ahead and kept in the refrigerator. The fish can be seared (2-3 minutes per side in a hot pan) shortly before dinner, then put in a 350-degree oven for about 8 minutes to finish cooking (an easy way to get all 8 servings ready at once).

WHITE BEAN AND BROCCOLINI BRUNCH TOASTS

Steps:

• Crush and mince 3 cloves garlic; crush remaining 2 cloves and set aside.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 cloves minced garlic, shallots, red pepper flakes, sea salt, and black pepper. Cook and stir for 5 minutes. Pour in 1/2 of the wine and 1/2 of the broth. Add white beans, rosemary, and a good pinch of sea salt. Continue to cook for 3 minutes.
• Mash 1/2 of the beans with a potato masher. Pour in remaining wine and broth. Reduce heat slightly, cover, and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
• While the beans cook, preheat a grill pan on the stovetop over medium heat. Once heated, drizzle each side of the sourdough slices with 1/2 of the olive oil. Set in the pan and grill until crispy, about 2 minutes per side. Brush each grilled side with the 2 remaining garlic cloves and set the toast on a plate until ready to assemble.
• Toss broccolini with remaining olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until combined. Place in a single layer on the heated grill pan. Let them sizzle (likely in batches) until lightly charred, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip, and continue for another 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate.
• While the broccolini cooks, melt the remaining butter in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Crack in the eggs, and season each one with red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Cook until whites are set, and yolks are at desired doneness.
• For assembly, smear 1/4 of the white beans on each of the toasts. Top with a fried egg and a few pieces of grilled broccolini. Garnish with Grana Padano cheese and chives.

WHITE BEAN-AVOCADO APPETIZER TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Rinse and drain 2 15-oz. cans cannellini beans. Puree with juice of 1 lemon, fresh parsley, 1 garlic clove, and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Make Toasts: Brush baguette slices with olive oil, season with salt and toast until golden and crisp.
• Spread white bean garlic dip on toasts.
• Top with sliced avocado, salt, pepper, and olive oil. If you can't control yourself, toss on some finely chopped red onion as well.