Whole Grain Crostini With Beans And Greens Food

WHOLE-GRAIN CROSTINI WITH BEANS AND GREENS

Steps:

• Prepare a grill or heat an oven to 400 degrees. Use about half the oil to lightly brush each slice of bread. Grill until grill marks appear or bake until golden and slightly crisp, about 10 minutes. (Turning is unnecessary but doesn't hurt.)
• Put remaining oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and softened, about 5 minutes. Add beans and spinach, and stir. Cook, stirring occasionally, until spinach wilts, about 5 minutes more.
• Add sage and, if necessary, enough reserved bean liquid to keep mixture moist. Cover and cook for another 5 minutes. (You can prepare and refrigerate all of this before assembling crostini; warm gently before proceeding.)
• Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon on top of crostini, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve immediately

ROASTED WHOLE GARLIC CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Slice 1/2-inch off the pointed end of the garlic bulb to expose each clove. Place garlic on aluminum foil. Pour 1 teaspoon of olive oil over the top of each bulb and let it sink into the cloves.
• Wrap foil around garlic bulbs and bake for approximately 1 hour, or until exposed cloves are golden brown.
• In a dry saute pan over medium-high heat, toast pine nuts for approximately 5 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Toast baguette slices in oven or toaster oven.
• To serve, place garlic, cheese, pine nuts and parsley on a serving plate along side crostinis. Instruct guests to extract individual garlic cloves from bulb with a small fork, spread on toast, and top with goat cheese, pine nuts and parsley leaves.

WHITE BEANS AND ROSEMARY CROSTINI

Steps:

• Heat a fireplace to medium heat. Adjust the grill racks over the flame and heat a heavy Dutch oven over the rack. Alternatively, heat a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Once hot, add the oil to the saucepan. Add the pancetta and render some of its fat. Add the rosemary and garlic, and saute until fragrant. Stir in the beans, lemon juice and some salt and pepper. Mash the beans with the back of a wooden spoon. Don't mash them all smooth, you want some texture.
• Toast the baguette slices. Serve the beans on top of the toasted baguette. Drizzle with olive oil if desired.

CROSTINI WITH PEA PURéE, ROCKET & BROAD BEANS

Steps:

• Cook the broad beans in a pan of boiling water for 4 mins until just tender. Drain, cool under cold running water, then drain and set aside. In the same pan, fry the peas in half the butter until just cooked. Allow to cool, then blitz with a hand blender or in a food processor with the mint, yogurt and seasoning until smooth.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Melt the rest of the butter in a small pan, stir in the dill, then brush over the slices of bread. Bake for 10-12 mins until the bread is crisp and golden.
• Spread some pea purée onto each slice, then top with rocket, broad beans and radishes. Use a potato peeler to shave pecorino on top. Drizzle with olive oil, if you like, before serving.

WHITE BEAN CROSTINI

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the beans, 1/4 cup oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Cover and process until smooth. Add olives and thyme; process until blended. , Place bread on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with remaining oil. Broil 3-4 in. from the heat for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly. Spread each slice with 1 tablespoon bean mixture. Garnish with olives and thyme if desired.