Cannellini, tomato, and olive crostini, a lovely fresh appetizer that delivers from the flavors of the cannellini beans, beautifully sautéed with cocktail tomatoes, a rich bright acidity from the olives, with hints of fresh basil and a wonderful backdrop of paprika. Absolutely scrumptious!
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[This post is sponsored by Ontario Bean Growers. We’ve been compensated but -as always- all opinions are our own.]
Cannellini, tomato, and olive crostini, Mediterranean cuisine at its best!
What we love about Mediterranean cuisine is that it is fresh, healthy, and uses nothing but great seasonal ingredients. This appetizer is no exception to the rule. It is one of the things that I have learnt from Nicoletta, to buy often, let it be fresh, and portions to be just perfect. Nothing like the feeling of eating something and feeling so wonderful after. Today come with us in our kitchen, we are going to show you how to make these Cannellini, tomato, and olive crostini. It will be a favorite, I am sure of it!
Time to gather the ingredients up, this is what you will need:
- Cannellini beans
- Cocktail tomatoes (cherry or grape will do to)
- Shallot
- Peperoncini
- Paprika
- Kalamata olives
- Olive oil
- Fresh basil
- Garlic
- Baguette
- Parsley
Strawberry cocktail tomatoes?
Some of you may not know this variety of tomato, called Strawberry tomatoes, however, it is the most incredibly tasting thing. We found them at our farmers market, they are on the vine, look indeed like strawberries, and have this rich red crimson color and sweet flavor. If you see them, or even ask your local grower, I highly recommend taking these home!
Utensils needed for this Cannellini, tomato, and olive crostini
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Few small bowls
- A sieve
- Wooden spoon
- Spatula
- 2 Sauté pans
- Tablespoon
- Wood board or platter for serving
First things first!
To start, we have to get our topping for this crostini. This is what we do:
- Chop up the cocktail tomatoes and place in a bowl.
- Mince up the shallot, and toss it into a medium sauté pan with some olive oil and chili flakes or what we call peperoncini. Bring to a medium heat. Season with salt and pepper and cook until shallots are softened.
- Time to throw in the cocktail tomatoes, fresh basil, a sprinkle in paprika, and let that simmer for a bit.
- Throw in cannellini beans, and olives that have been halved, and give it a good stir with your wooden spoon. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed, and let that mingle on low heat for a time.
- Turn off heat and set aside.
We now need to do our crostini
- In another sauté pan drizzle in olive oil. Take baguette slices and coat both sides of the bread by rubbing them in the pan with the oil. Turn heat to a medium to high and toast bread for a few minutes or until they start to turn a nice golden color and crisp up.
A little garlic goes a long way!
Truly, in Italian or Mediterranean cuisine we don't use an over abundance of garlic. More so, if we are using it, we use it whole and take it out when it has done its job. For this Cannellini, tomato, and olive crostini, we halve the garlic and just rub the side that the topping is going on. The Italian version of garlic bread, lol. This gives us a nice subtle hint of garlic and the end result is a beautiful dance of balance and harmony!
Final touches for this Cannellini, tomato, and olive crostini
We are down to the final moments before we get to take a bite out of this fantastic appetizer. This is what is left to do:
- Place all you crostini onto the serving board or platter.
- With a spoon, scoop some bean tomato mixture onto the toasted baguette, or what we call crostini. Hey, don't be shy, mound that lovely topping on.
- Finish with some fresh chopped parsley. Do this with all the crostini, and you will have these Cannellini, tomato, and olive crostini done!
A thing of true beauty!
I firmly believe that we eat with our eyes first, and these Cannellini, tomato, and olive crostini, are not hard on the eyes for sure. The lovely contrast between the redness of the cocktail tomato, cannellini beans, and those dark olives, is really enticing. I always have to have some freshness and the green of the parsley does the trick!
I am truly in bliss as the aromas of this appetizer has my stomach growling! There is nothing like the aroma of cooked tomatoes with that backdrop of basil. I can even slightly pick up on the paprika and how pleasant is that. I really need to have a taste now, and I think Nicoletta is feeling the same way, as I see her pick one up!
Flavor is in the hands of the beholder!
Being the true gentlemen that I am, I am going to let Nicoletta handle the tasting. I watch as she bites in and the first thing is how her eyes are closing and that look that this crostini is jut out of this world good. Nicoletta says that the tomatoes are so sweet and rich, and play wonderfully with the starchy sweetness of the cannellini beans. She also tastes the backdrop of the basil, and that slight sweet smokiness coming from the paprika which really boosts the flavor happening here.
My bite reveals that lovely crispness of the baguette perfectly flavors with that subtle garlic backdrop. A perfect foundation to all that is happening in this Cannellini, tomato, and olive crostini
Nicoletta and I made this lovely recipe together and it was so much fun. It is wonderful to work side by side to create such amazing dishes that I know are infused with the love that we have for what we do, what we use, and how we put it together. Thanks for joining us in our kitchen, see you next time! If you are craving more delicious appetizers try our Simple eggplant bruschetta bites, Panko and Asiago Crusted Popcorn Cauliflower, or Deep fried squash blossoms and sage leaves.
Cheers!
PrintCannellini, tomato, and olive crostini
Cannellini, tomato, and olive crostini, A lovely fresh appetizer that delivers from the flavors of the cannellini beans, beautifully sautéed with strawberry cocktail tomatoes, a rich bright acidity from the olives, with hints of fresh basil and a wonderful backdrop of paprika. Absolutely scrumptious!
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: serves four people 1x
Ingredients
- 1 small can Cannellini beans (white kidney beans), rinsed and drained
- 1 cup chopped cocktail tomatoes, diced
- 1 shallot, minced
- a pinch of peperoncino
- a pinch of smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons of evo oil
- 6 kalamata olives, cut into rings
- 2-3 basil leaves
- 8-10 baguette slices (½ inch thick)
- evo oil and garlic for the bread
- a sprinkle of chopped parsley for the top
Instructions
- Drizzle olive oil and chili flakes into a medium sauté pan. Toss in minced shallots and turn on heat to a medium. Season with salt and pepper, stir, and cook until shallots begin to soften, about 2 minutes.
- Throw in tomatoes, season with paprika, add the fresh basil leaves, and let simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Then, add cannellini beans and olives. Cook for about 5 more minutes or until nicely thickened. Turn off heat.
- In another sauté pan drizzle in olive oil. Take baguette slices and coat both sides of the bread by rubbing them in the pan with the oil. Turn heat to a medium to high and toast bread for a few minutes or until they start to turn a nice golden color and crisp up.
- Cut the garlic in half, and rub one side of the bread with the cut side of the garlic.
- Place baguette onto a serving dish. Spoon bean mixture on with a spoon. Be generous and mound it on.
- Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and these are ready to serve. Enjoy!
Notes
If you cannot find the cocktail tomatoes, cherry or grape tomatoes will work as well.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: appetizer
- Method: Stove top
- Cuisine: Mediterranean/Italian
Keywords: crostini, cannellini beans, cocktail tomatoes, garlic, evo oil, basil, parsley, paprika, Italian cuisine,
When I am not cooking, I enjoy playing musical instruments, singing, writing. I have learned over the years to live in gratitude and enjoy the moment.
Gloria says
I am a bread lover. I could make a meal out of these crostini. Love the addition of the cannellini beans.
★★★★★
Hi Gloria, I totally understand the love of bread, us too feel the same way. You are going to love this the beans and tomatoes on top of that crusty garlic bread is just music to the taste buds! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Cheers!
Heather says
Such an easy delicious appetizer.. the beans give it such a wonderful creamy texture!
★★★★★
Your right Heather. Love cannellini beans such rich flavor and luxurious texture. Thank you!
Happy cooking!
Lauren Michael Harris says
I love how simple and fresh this recipe is. It was the perfect starter to a family dinner - everyone loved it!
★★★★★
That's fantastic Lauren, thank you so much fro trying this, and so happy the family enjoyed it so much. You have made Nicoletta and I smile today!
Cheers!
Megs says
Loved these! So easy and delicious. I could eat them every day of the week.
★★★★★
Hi Megs, That's so wonderful that you fancy these. Italian cooking is all about ease and ingredients, not to mention a little bit of love in the mix.
Have a wonderful cooking week!
Jenny says
Beautiful ingredients. Simple execution. Elegant and delicious recipe!
★★★★★
Jenny you have summed up this dish in few words and what wonderful things to say. We really appreciate them.
Thank you!
Tracy says
This was so simple, fresh, and delicious! We loved this recipe! So delicious - another great recipe, thank you!
★★★★★
Your so very welcome Tracy, so happy it was enjoyed. It always brings a smile to our faces and warmth to our hearts knowing this recipe is being done and enjoyed also.
Thank you for giving it a try!
Cheers!
Erica says
This was so yummy such an easy recipe I was surprised how much I loved the beans. Simple and delicious.
★★★★★
Hi Erica, so happy you enjoyed this. It is a great recipe to highlight these wonderful beans.
Thanks for giving it a try!
Ksenia says
This was such a simple crostini, but beautiful and full of Flavor! Loved every bit of it
★★★★★
Hi Ksenia, so happy you tried this and fell in love with it. Such a quick easy recipe that you are so right full of flavor!
Thank you!
Amy says
I made this crostini for one of my personal chef clients. They just loves the addition of the creamy beans and olives along with the tomatoes.
★★★★★
Hi Ksenia, so happy you tried this and fell in love with it. Such a quick easy recipe that you are so right full of flavor!
Thank you!