Lemony White Bean Bruschetta Bites

5 from 1 vote

Lemony White Bean Bruschetta Bites

These white bean bruschetta bites are a favorite summer appetizer or snack! They pair earthy white beans with garlic, sweet tomatoes, fresh herbs and lemon juice. Served over toasted bread for a delicious crunchy and creamy combo, these are sure to be a hit at any gathering!

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Vegan, vegetarian

Servings: servings

Calories: 294kcal

Author: Jessica Laroche

Ingredients

8 slices French baguette or 4 slices of larger bread, such as ciabatta bread
15 oz cannellini beans (or navy beans) rinsed and drained
1 clove of garlic crushed or grated, plus a second clove of garlic to rub on the bread, if desired
½ lemon juiced
2 tbsp fresh basil or parsley finely chopped, plus more for serving
¼ cup cherry tomatoes (or about 6-7) chopped
½ tsp salt
red pepper flakes optional for serving

Instructions

Rinse and drain the white beans very well. Then, add the beans to a medium bowl and mash about half of them using a fork. Add the tomatoes, parsley, lemon juice, garlic and salt, then stir to combine. Taste and adjust the flavor to your preference (add some red pepper flakes if desired). Set aside.
Slice the bread. Warm up a large pan (I used a cast-iron pan) over medium-high heat and toast the bread (feel free to drizzle olive oil over the bread first). Toast on one side until crunchy and golden brown, then transfer the toast over your serving platter (toasted side facing up).
Optional: rub a clove of garlic over the toasted bread for extra flavor.
Scoop the white bean mixture over the grilled bread and garnish with more fresh parsley and red pepper flakes, if desired. Enjoy right away.

Video

Notes

For a crunchier result, then make sure to spread a little high-quality olive oil over the slices of bread before toasting.
Try not to slice your bread too thin or it might not be able to hold onto the filling. A thin bread also will turn soggy quicker and might let some of the filling go through some holes. I recommend about ¾-1 inch of thickness. You can also slice it slightly diagonally to allow for a larger garnishing surface.
This makes enough for 4 people (8 smaller slices of baguettes or 4 larger toast). This recipe easily doubles for larger gatherings!
Make-ahead: you can make the white bean filling up to 24 hours ahead of time. This can be handy if you are hosting, plus the beans will have some extra time to marinate and soak up all the flavor!
Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.

Nutrition