Description
This Smashed Cannellini Bean Crostini recipe offers a creamy, flavorful bean spread enhanced with sautéed onions, garlic, and crispy sage leaves. Perfect as a light snack or appetizer, it’s served on crispy crostini or breadsticks with a drizzle of olive oil, bringing a delightful Mediterranean flair to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
Bean Spread
- 4 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling (optional)
- 12 sage leaves (optional)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- ½ tsp cracked black pepper
- 400g can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ lemon, juiced
- Salt, to taste
To Serve
- 12 crostini or breadsticks
Instructions
- Fry Sage Leaves: Heat half the olive oil in a shallow saucepan over low-medium heat. Add the sage leaves and fry for 2 minutes until crisp. Remove the sage with a slotted spoon and set aside on a plate.
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: In the same pan, add the chopped onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute, stirring often to prevent burning.
- Add Pepper and Beans: Sprinkle in the cracked black pepper and toast for 1 minute, then stir in the drained cannellini beans. Turn off the heat and mix in the freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Blend the Mixture: Season the mixture with salt to taste. Transfer the bean mixture to a food processor or mini chopper along with the remaining olive oil. Blitz to your preferred consistency, whether a smooth paste or a slightly chunky spread.
- Chill and Serve: Store the spread covered in the refrigerator for up to two days. Bring to room temperature about 1 hour before serving. Serve the bean spread on crostini or breadsticks, optionally drizzled with extra olive oil and topped with the crispy sage leaves.
Notes
- For a vegan and vegetarian-friendly appetizer, this recipe contains no animal products.
- The crispy sage leaves add a delightful texture and flavor contrast; do not skip if possible.
- You can adjust the consistency of the bean spread by blending less or more to suit your preference.
- If you don’t have crostini or breadsticks, toasted baguette slices work well as a substitute.
- The bean spread keeps well refrigerated for up to two days, making it ideal for advance preparation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: cannellini beans, crostini, appetizer, bean spread, Mediterranean, vegetarian, sage, olive oil
