White Beans Sun Dried Tomatoes And Basil Bites Recipes

WHITE BEAN, SUN-DRIED TOMATO, AND FETA BITES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In small saucepan over moderately low heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and tomato oil until hot but not smoking. Add pine nuts and toast, stirring occasionally, until light golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in garlic, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Continue stirring until mixture cools slightly, about 3 minutes. Stir in beans, tomatoes, lemon juice, basil, Parmesan, and Feta. (Topping can be prepared ahead and refrigerated, covered, up to 6 hours. Before serving, bring to room temperature.)
• Arrange bread squares on parchment-lined baking sheet and brush on both sides with remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil. Toast, turning once, until light golden brown, about 3 minutes per side.
• Top squares with white bean topping and serve immediately. (Alternately, serve white bean, sun-dried tomato, and Feta mixture in bowl and arrange toast squares alongside.)

BRUSCHETTA WITH WHITE BEANS, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES AND BASIL

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.

WHITE BEAN PURéE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Place beans in medium saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover beans by 3 inches. Let stand overnight.
• Drain beans well. Return to saucepan. Add 4 cups water, onion, and rosemary sprigs. Bring to boil; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until beans are soft, about 1 hour 45 minutes. Discard rosemary sprigs. Drain beans and onion; cool to room temperature.
• Using on/off turns, puree drained beans and onion, sun-dried tomatoes, shallots, and chopped rosemary in processor until smooth, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. Add 3 tablespoons oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper. Puree until blended. With machine running, gradually add 1/2 cup boiling water. Thin with more water by tablespoonfuls if necessary. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Transfer white bean puree to wide shallow bowl; drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkle with parsley. Garnish with lemon wedges. Serve with toasted pita triangles.

WHITE BEANS, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES AND BASIL BITES

Steps:

• 1. Rinse beans. In small saucepan combine beans and enough water to fill pan 1-inch higher than beans. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 1 hour.2. Drain and rinse beans. In same saucepan combine beans and enough water to completely cover. Stir in 2 tablespoons of oil, half of garlic and bay leaf. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered for 1 hour. Remove from heat. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days.3. In large skillet combine remaining 2 tablespoons oil and remaining garlic. Cook and stir over medium heat until garlic turns golden. Stir in red pepper. Cook for 10 seconds. Stir in basil. Cook and stir until basil wilts. Stir in tomatoes. Cook and stir about 1 minute more. Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper.4. Drain beans, reserving liquid. Stir into tomato mixture in skillett. Add enough reserved bean liquid to make of desired consistency.5. Top crackers with bean mixture. Sprinkle cheese on top.