Description
A warm and comforting Cheesy White Bean-Tomato Bake featuring tender white beans cooked in a garlicky tomato paste sauce, topped with melted and lightly browned mozzarella cheese. This simple oven-baked dish makes a perfect hearty side or light main.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 fat garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 (15-ounce) cans white beans (such as cannellini or Great Northern) or chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1/3 pound mozzarella, coarsely grated (about 1 1/3 cups)
Instructions
- Heat the skillet and cook garlic: Preheat your oven to 475°F (246°C). Place a 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the sliced garlic and fry for about 1 minute until it is lightly golden and fragrant, being careful not to let it burn.
- Add tomato paste: Stir in the tomato paste carefully to avoid splattering. Continue to fry the mixture for 30 seconds, lowering the heat as necessary to prevent the garlic from burning.
- Combine beans and seasoning: Add the drained and rinsed white beans (or chickpeas) to the skillet along with 1/2 cup of boiling water. Season generously with salt and black pepper, then stir everything well to combine the flavors.
- Add cheese and bake: Evenly sprinkle the coarsely grated mozzarella over the top of the bean mixture. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese has melted and is browned in spots.
- Optional broil to brown cheese further: If you want a more toasted cheese topping, place the skillet under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Serve immediately: Remove the skillet from the oven and serve the bake hot for a hearty and flavorful dish.
Notes
- This dish can be prepared with cannellini beans, Great Northern beans, or chickpeas for a slight variation in flavor and texture.
- Use an ovenproof skillet to safely transfer the dish from stovetop to oven without extra cleanup.
- If you don’t have a broiler, simply bake a few extra minutes to brown the cheese.
- For a vegan version, substitute mozzarella with a plant-based cheese alternative or omit entirely.
- Adjust salt and pepper according to your taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Keywords: cheesy white bean bake, tomato bake, mozzarella beans, baked beans recipe, vegetarian bake, garlic tomato bean dish
