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Bruschetta with White Beans and Cheese

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 6 appetizer servings

Ingredients

1

cup dried cannellini (white kidney beans) or Great Northern beans, picked over

2

celery stalks, halved

2

carrots, halved

2

onions, halved

1

teaspoon ground black pepper

4

whole cloves

1

bay leaf

4

tablespoons olive oil

2

large garlic cloves, minced

1

cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese (about 3 ounces)

1

cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 3 ounces)

4

tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley

2

tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter

1

tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried

1

tablespoon chopped fresh sage or 1 teaspoon dried

6

1/2-inch-thick slices from large crusty round loaf of white bread

3

garlic cloves, halved

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place beans in large saucepan. Add enough water to cover beans by 2 inches. Bring to boil. Boil 2 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat. Cover and let stand 1 hour. Drain beans.

    Step 2

    Return beans to same saucepan. Add celery stalks, carrots, onions, pepper, cloves and bay leaf. Add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until beans are tender, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes. (Beans and vegetables can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

    Step 3

    Drain beans, reserving 1/3 cup cooking liquid. Discard vegetables, cloves and bay leaf. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and sauté 30 seconds. Add 2 cups beans (reserve remaining beans for another use), both cheeses, 3 tablespoons parsley, 2 tablespoons butter, rosemary, sage and reserved 1/3 cup cooking liquid. Stir until cheeses and butter melt, whisking constantly and mashing come of beans to form thick chunky sauce. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper.

    Step 4

    Preheat broiler. Arrange bread on large baking sheet. Brush top of each bread slice with remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Rub with cut side of garlic clove halves. Broil bread until lightly toasted. Transfer bread to plates.

    Step 5

    Spoon bean mixture atop bread. Sprinkle with remaining parsley.