Pizza Beans Toast

Two of my favorite foods come together in this luxury pizza-bagel-esque experience that you’ll keep coming back for over and over again. To save time, use store-bought tomato sauce.

Serves: 4 people

Active time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

  • 4 1-inch thick slices country-style bread

  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

  • 2 small cloves garlic, peeled

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 cups tomato sauce (preferably Michaels from Brooklyn or Raos)

  • 1, 15-ounce can white beans, drained and rinsed

  • 5 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/4 -inch thick slices

  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • 6-7 fresh basil leaves, torn, for garnish

  • Fresh oregano leaves, for garnish (optional)

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to broil. Place bread slices onto a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil over the bread and toast until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Remove the bread from the oven, rub with garlic cloves, season with salt and set aside.

  2. Warm the tomato sauce in a medium skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the beans and stir to warm through, about 2-3 minutes more. Divide the tomato beans among the toasts, top with ¼ cup parmesan cheese and a slice of mozzarella. Place back into the oven and broil until the cheese is melted, about 2 minutes more. 

  3. Remove from the oven, top with remaining Parmesan cheese, basil leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil and enjoy!

Elena Besser