White Bean Crostini Toasts
White Bean Crostini Toasts are an easy snack, appetizer or side dish, served on a crusty French bread. It’s a simple vegetarian appetizer! We love this served as a starter with soup night (and a crunchy salad). Delish!
Perfect to set out for the holidays, this warm White Bean Crostini Toasts recipe for a little snack dinner. It’s comforting, hearty, and so good (with a pop of lemon), served with fresh basil on top.
White Bean Crostini Toasts
What I look forward to most about the weekends is gathering friends, and cooking up a feast, with always a good appetizer. Sometimes it’s a feast of appetizers! Just grab the cannellini beans, lemon, basil, cheese and few more ingredients and your favorite bread.
Why I love this recipe
- This recipe is good enough for lunch or a light dinner, too.
- Hearty and delish served with soup and salad.
- Easy ingredients to keep on hand.
Easy Friday night appetizer with beans
Combining white beans and lemon is a match made in heaven. Cannellini beans don’t carry much flavor, so they are the perfect foundation for adding citrusy, and herbaceous, ingredients.
When combined with lemon juice and zest, the beans transform into a creamy, brightly-flavored spread, that leaves the light flavors of lemon and sweet basil lingering on your tongue long after you’re done eating.
Gather theses ingredients
Let’s get started. All you need are these ingredients:
- Cannellini beans
- Fresh basil
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice + zest
- Salt and fresh pepper to taste
- Shaved Parmesan
- French bread, lightly toasted with olive oil or butter
- Balsamic vinegar for dipping
What is crostini?
Crostinis are small, bite-sized appetizers made up of slices of toasted baguettes or French bread, topped with your favorite toppings.
This appetizer is both filling and healthy. Think “snack dinner,” and serve these with a giant salad, or a pot of soup.
How to make white bean crostini
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the beans, olive oil, lemon juice, zest, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss, then use a fork to lightly mash the beans (leave some large chunks; don’t over mash). Add in basil and gently mix in. Taste for additional salt and pepper.
- Place the lightly-toasted French bread onto a baking sheet. Divide the beans into fourths and spread the beans onto the bread, using a fork to gently mash down. Cover each piece with Parmesan cheese and broil until the cheese has melted and the beans are warmed.
- Drizzle the toasts with extra basil, olive oil, and a generous splash of balsamic. Serve warm.
Serve white bean toasts!
Maybe you’re setting up a crostini bar or board? Try a crostini bar as the appetizer course for your next family dinner or cocktail party. Round out the spread with any of your favorite topping combinations, but make sure and serve this white bean option.
Serve these as a light vegetarian lunch, or cut the toasts into thirds, sprinkle with basil, and serve as an appetizer, with olive oil and balsamic for dipping.
Tips and substitutions:
- This recipe can easily be doubled. You can make these ahead of time, as the bread will store for a few days in an air-tight container.
- The white bean spread can be refrigerated a few days.
- Use French bread, baguette, or even regular bread (made into toast).
- Optional to add a hint of cumin, if you love cumin.
For me personally? Crispy charred bread that I toasted under the broiler is the perfect crunchy base for these creamy beans.
Really, these are so good!
ENJOY!
More white bean recipes to try:
Slow Cooker White Bean Basil Chicken Soup
Creamy Parmesan White Bean Stew
Turkey Poblano White Bean Chili
Get the Recipe:
White Bean Crostini Toasts
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 6-8 large leaves sweet basil, chiffonade, plus more to garnish
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, plus more to drizzle
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp lemon zest, packed
- Salt and fresh pepper to taste
- ⅔ c shaved Parmesan
- 4 slices French bread, lightly toasted, with olive oil or butter
- Balsamic vinegar for dipping
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the beans, olive oil, lemon juice, zest, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss, then use a fork to lightly mash the beans (leave some large chunks; don’t over mash). Add in basil and gently mix in. Taste for additional salt and pepper.
- Place the lightly-toasted French bread onto a baking sheet. Divide the beans into fourths and spread the beans onto the bread, using a fork to gently mash down. Cover each piece with Parmesan cheese and broil on low for 3-4 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the beans are warmed.
- Drizzle the toasts with extra basil, olive oil, and a generous splash of balsamic. Serve warm.
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
This was good, although it was a bit too lemon-forward between the zest and juice. I added 1/2 tsp cumin and salt each, trying to counter the lemon strength a bit. I will definitely make it again but cut halve the lemon juice. Thank you for sharing the recipe and giving me another way to include beans in my menu!
Noted, and we re-made and cut back the lemon. Perfect. Love the touch of cumin, too!