Bruschetta With White Bean Puree Recipes

Steps:

• Rinse the beans well and then put in a 1-quart saucepan. Cover with water to 1-inch over the top of the beans. On medium-high heat, bring to a boil. Immediately take the pot away from the burner, cover and hold for 1 hour. Change the water; add half of the extra-virgin olive oil, 1 garlic clove and the bay leaf. Cook beans on low. Simmer for about 40 minutes or until tender. During last 10 minutes, add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir in carefully. Remove from heat and hold in the saucepan with the cooking liquid until cool. This may be done 1 to 2 days before serving, and kept refrigerated.
• For the bruschetta topping:
• Preheat a grill or stove-top grill pan.
• Grill the bread on both sides until crispy. Be careful on high heat as bread burns easily.
• While bread is grilling, in a saute pan on medium heat, toast the sliced garlic in the olive oil. When it is light golden, add the chili flakes, cook for 10 seconds and then add the basil leaves. Do this carefully, as the basil may spatter some oil.
• With a slotted spoon, transfer the beans to the pan. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the bean cooking liquid (or liquid from canned beans) and mix all together. Hold warm. Adjust consistency, as necessary, with the bean liquid, a little at a time.
• When the basil leaves are wilted, remove mixture from the heat. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and chopped parsley. Toss to combine and adjust the seasoning with lemon juice, to taste, and salt and pepper.
• Lightly swipe the remaining garlic clove on 1 side of the bread. Arrange the toasted bruschetta on a serving platter and drizzle with the remaining extra-virgin olive oil. Top each piece with some of the tomato-bean mixture, then evenly divide the ricotta salata over the mixture. Serve warm.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the beans, tomatoes, olives, 4 tablespoons oil, basil, garlic, salt and pepper. Place bread slices on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with remaining oil., Broil 3-4 in. from the heat until golden, about 1 minute. Spread with cheese; top with bean mixture. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Place the oil in a small skillet and heat over medium high heat. Lightly dust the 16 sage leaves with flour, shaking off any excess. Drop them in the hot oil and cook just until crispy and bright green, about 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the beans and shallot and process until very smooth. Remove the puree from the processor and pass it through a food mill or fine-mesh sieve. Place the puree in a small bowl and stir in the olive oil, chopped sage, lemon juice and salt and black pepper to taste. Set aside.
• Grill or broil the bread until lightly browned. While still hot, rub the slices with the garlic and sprinkle with a tablespoon of truffle oil. Spread each slice with about a tablespoon of the bean puree and sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of truffle oil over the tops. Top each with a fried sage leaf and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a shallow baking pan toast nuts in middle of oven until fragrant, about 10 minutes, and when cool coarsely chop. Rinse and drain beans. In a food processor mince garlic and purée with beans, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon oil until smooth.
• Toast bread and drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil. Divide purée among toasts and top with nuts. Drizzle remaining tablespoon oil over bruschetta and garnish with parsley.