All you plant-based eaters are influencing me. This winter, I am constantly longing for meals with escarole and beans. Erin Clarke at wellplated created a dish based on an Italian appetizers, but served it over fresh wheat bread. I added my beloved escarole to her recipe to give me what I’m hankering for. What a lovely, nutrient-dense lunch! 👩🏻🍳. Keep an eye out for the this August! Tuscan white bean toasts with escarole and tomatoes
Ingredients
4 slices of thick, good quality whole wheat bread
3 tablespoons plus 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 small shallot (finely chopped)
1 pint cherry tomatoes (2 cups, left whole). 1 head of escarole, chopped
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 cloves minced garlic
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
1 15-ounce can reduced sodium white (cannellini) beans, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan (can use dairy-free or nutritional yeast)
1/2 tablespoon thyme. DIRECTIONS
1. Place a rack in the upper third of your oven and preheat the oven to 400°F. Arrange the bread in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush each side with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil. Bake for 5 minutes, then flip the slices and return to the oven. Continue baking until the bread is nicely toasted, about 5 additional minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot, tomatoes, escarole,salt, and pepper. Let cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break down and their juice begins to caramelize in the skillet, about 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Stir in the garlic, red wine vinegar, and honey. Let cook 30 seconds, or until just fragrant, then stir in the white beans. Let cook 1 to 2 minutes, until the beans are warmed through. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
4. To serve, arrange the toasted bread slices on plates. Top with generous spoonfuls of the tomato bean mixture, then sprinkle with Parmesan or nutritional yeast and thyme. Enjoy immediately.