Fall has arrived, the temperatures are cooler and holiday entertaining is around the corner. Sometimes you need a little something for lunch or dinner or a nice hearty appetizer to serve your guests, these white bean crostini with frizzled sage will fit the bill!
Crunchy and warm crostini spread with smashed cannellini beans that have been infused with lots of flavor and topped off with a crispy sage leaf.
It’s warm and comforting, quick and easy to make and looks very impressive.
You need to frizzle your sage in olive oil, just getting it to the point where it starts to crisp up and doesn’t turn dark brown. The sage infused oil is then the base for starting your beans.
Half of the beans will be smashed and the other half left whole. Canned beans are used in this recipe but you certainly can cook up your own pot of beans if you so desire but remember this is a fuss free recipe, one that you can whip up in no time.
So my advice would be to stock up your pantry with some canned cannellini beans so you’re ready when you need a spur of the moment topping for crostini.
Crispy charred bread that I toasted under the broiler are the perfect crunchy base for these creamy beans, which taste at their peek when warm, then each crostini is crowned with a frizzled sage leaf.
This is the time to take out your best quality olive oil and give each one a good drizzle to finish them off. How is it that something so simple can taste so good?
You can eat them on their own with your favorite beverage, or place them onto a charcuterie platter with some other goodies.
Deliciously simple, you’ll be a hit and they’ll all be devoured!
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- 2 cans of cannellini beans, drained
- 2 cloves of garlic, smashed into a paste
- ⅓ cup of onion finely minced
- a pinch or so of red pepper flakes according to your liking
- salt and pepper to taste
- every day olive oil
- a good quality olive oil for finishing
- horizontally sliced baguette, drizzled with olive oil and put under the broiler to get toasted on each side, it goes fast so keep checking and don't walk away
- enough fresh sage leaves to top each crostini and garnish the pot of beans
- Toast your bread first as stated above and set aside.
- Depending on how many crostini your're making, first fry up a bunch of fresh sage in your everyday olive oil, enough to cover the bottom of the pan.
- You want the sage to be frizzled and not dark golden brown, set aside on paper towels.
- In same pan add the garlic and onion and saute until soft.
- Add in the drained beans, season with red pepper, salt and pepper.
- Cook beans on medium low, turning constantly until all the flavors meld together.
- Gently smash half on the beans right in the pan and leave the rest whole.
- Toss in some whole sage leaves for garnish right in the pan.
- Drizzle with good quality olive oil and taste for seasoning, it should be heavily seasoned.
- Spread warm beans onto toasted bread, garnish with one sage leaf, and give it a good drizzle with the quality olive oil.
- Enjoy!
I’m Marie, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, and gramma of two beautiful girls. My passion is food, clear and simple but especially Italian food, hence the name of my blog, Proud Italian Cook. I want you to feel right at home here so grab a cup of coffee, I’ll get the pastries, take a look around and enjoy your visit! {
