Fresh tomatoes and creamy white beans tossed with basil, balsamic, and loads of garlic, then loaded onto crunchy golden toasts. Does it get any better than this?!
Ingredients
For the toasts:
1French bread baguettecut into 1/2-inch slices (for about 36 pieces)
3 to 4tablespoonsolive oil
2 to 3garlic clovespeeled and halved
For the cherry tomato and white bean salad:
2tablespoonsolive oil
6medium garlic cloves
1 1/2pintsabout 1 pound cherry tomatoes, halved
115-ounce can white beans, drained and rinsed (I like cannellini beans)
1tablespoonbalsamic vinegar
1/4cupbasil leaveschiffonaded
1/8teaspoonkosher saltplus more to taste
1/8teaspoonfreshly ground black pepperplus more to taste
Instructions
Make the toasts. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush a large cookie sheet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and lay the bread on the sheet. Brush the tops of each slice with the remaining 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil. Bake until golden brown around the edges, 5-8 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Rub each piece on both sides with cut sides of 2 or 3 cloves garlic. Set aside.
Make the cherry tomato and white bean salad. Set a small saute pan over medium heat. When hot, add 2 tablespoons olive oil and the 6 cloves minced garlic. Saute, stirring frequently, for about 1 minute - just until the garlic is soft and beginning to turn golden (but not dark brown - that's burned!) Transfer the garlic and oil to a small bowl to cool.
Add the cherry tomatoes, beans, balsamic vinegar, basil leaves, and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Pour in the sauteed garlic, oil and all. Mix well. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired. I like lots of extra pepper!
Serve piled on toasts.
The tomato salad keeps well refrigerated (in an airtight container) for up to 24 hours. It can keep for longer, but the tomatoes start to get a little mushy, which personally I don't love. The toasts keep well in an airtight container or bag at room temperature for up to 24 hours (or can be frozen for several weeks).