Incredibly flavorful and filling, this White Bean and Tomato Ragout Over Ciabatta is the perfect healthy comfort food dish.
Ok guys. It appears the chocolate bunnies and malted milk eggs, in addition to Monday’s Apricot Preserves Crumb Cake have caught up with me. Wah wah.
It’s time for me to get back on track and perhaps shed a few pounds. Unfortunately, as we all get older it seems that’s easier said than done. I say “we” because misery loves company, so humor me even if you’re a 20 something who can eat whatever you want and not put on a pound, ok?! So today’s recipe for White Bean and Tomato Ragout over Ciabatta is one of my favorite meals for when I’m on a quest for dishes that will keep me fuller, longer, but are still incredibly delicious.
I actually can’t believe I haven’t shared this recipe sooner. I saved this one from Bon Appetit Magazine from May 2012, and I’ve made it countless times since then. It never gets old. We all know that beans are a superfood. They’re packed with calcium, B vitamins, iron and potassium. They’ve got protein, fiber and a huge amount of filling power. They’re easy to cook with and very inexpensive. And take it from me, this is one dish that packs in lots of flavor.
The base of this recipe is a soffritto. A soffritto is a base for soups and stews which consists of a mixture of finely chopped vegetables such as onion, garlic, peppers, carrots and celery sauteed slowly in olive oil. The soffritto for this recipe is a mixture of onion, red pepper and garlic. Once the vegetables are nice and soft you simply add the beans and broth and bring to a simmer. While the ragout is simmering, toast up your ciabatta that’s been sprinkled with a bit of parmesan and drizzled with olive oil. Then when the ragout has thickened, add the tomatoes and cook until tender.
I like to serve this up in shallow bowls. Place one piece of toast per bowl and top with some of the bean mixture. Sprinkle with some extra parm and finely chopped fresh parsley. This flavorful, zesty dish is healthy comfort food at its best! Enjoy!
- 2 cups finely chopped onion
- 1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- kosher salt and pepper
- 4 cloves garlic 3 finely minced 1 halved
- 2 tsp. tomato paste
- 4-6 1 inch slices toasted ciabatta
- 8-10 Tbsp. grated parmesan divided
- 2 15 oz. cans cannellini beans rinsed and drained
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
- 2 Tbsp. fresh flat-leaf parsley finely chopped
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Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and peppers and season with salt and pepper. Simmer until vegetables are softened, about 30 minutes, stirring often. Add the minced garlic and the tomato paste and cook, stirring often until the tomato paste turns a dark red, about 3 minutes. Measure 3/4 cup soffritto and set aside; reserve skillet. Transfer remaining soffritto to a container and let cool, uncovered. Mixture can be stored in fridge for up to 4 days or freezer for 3 months.
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Rub bread slices with remaining garlic clove. Place bread on baking sheet. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and sprinkle each slice with 1 Tbsp. parmesan cheese. Toast for 5 minutes or until cheese begins to brown.
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Heat 3/4 cup soffritto and beans in same skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until heated through, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in the broth and bring to a boil. Simmer, scraping up brown bits from bottom of skillet, until liquid thickens, about 4 minutes. Add tomatoes. Simmer until tomatoes are tender, 3-4 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper.
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Place one slice of bread per bowl and top with some of bean mixture. Garnish each bowl with the remaining 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese and parsley. Drizzle with olive oil if desired.
Adapted from Bon Appetit Magazine May 2012
I am not a 20 something who can eat whatever they want and I feel your pain! Seriously after age 40, it is impossible to lose 5 (or 15!) pounds. Your photos are gorgeous as always and I just want to reach in with a spoon!
The trials and tribulations of getting old. You’re so right, 40’s and up and your metabolism gets shot to @#$!! Such a bummer. This ragout helps keep me full and so satisfied though. I’m always looking for dishes like this one when I’m trying to shed a few. Thanks so much Karen. Hope your week is going well.
I’m definitely not a twenty something and I have to work my little buns off on the treadmill if I want to eat good food. It’s a fair trade off – eat and work out, work out and eat ;) I love beans and eat them on the regular. Like you said, so good for you and very filling. The addition of cheese on this recipe makes it all the better…well, cause cheese, right ;) ? Pinning! I know hubby would love this one too. Have a wonderful weekend! xo
Ugh! The dreaded treadmill and I have become fast friends Dawn. I miss being 20, don’t you? Who am I kidding?! I miss being 30 AND 40 too! Well, at least I’ve got dishes like this one to keep me happy and off the treadmill at least while I’m eating it. Have a wonderful weekend. XO
Lol! I’m not a 20 something and I can not eat whatever I want without gaining weight, so I feel you, Mary Ann! The struggle is real!! I actually eat super healthy and still struggle to not gain weight due to ovarian issues. So I know all to well what all that dayum candy does. It wreaks havoc!! ;) But it sure is tasty! Anywawys, loving this ragout! White beans are one of my favs, so mixing them with tomatoes and soffritto sounds delish!!! Super cozy and scrumptious! I could eat bowl after bowl of this! Pinned! Cheers, friend!
This one is such a healthy favorite of mine Chey! I love how the beans fill me up. And the flavor of this dish can’t be beat. Thanks for pinning. Have a great weekend! XO
**EEKS! I’m commenting from my phone, so ignore the spelling errors! I have fat fingers and auto correct stinks! <3
No prob! I hate auto correct!
Oh…you are speaking my language…in the meal department and the ‘curvy’ department… Glad to see I’m not alone! It was a long winter, right? We’ve been getting up and hitting the canal for walks but hoping to turn those walks into jogs, soon… In the meantime – I’ll just enjoy this beauty 24/7! Gorgeous and delicious!
You’ll definitely enjoy this one Annie! Way better than a jog in my opinion! Lol!
This is some serious comfort food!
You’d love it Jennifer!
that second photo . . OH MY GAWD, looks SO GOOD!!!!! I want a big bowl right now! love!
Thanks Alice! I love this dish! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made it and it never gets old!
What perfect comfort food! So lovely served over the bread. I could sit down to this every night :)
It’s perfect over the toasted ciabatta Jennifer! I love it!
This looks like something I would want to make over and over throughout the year. Can’t wait to try it!
Believe me Matt…you’re going to love it. It’s a recipe that I’ve made countless times and I never get tired of it! Hope you’re having a great week!
I am turning 45 on July so I feel you, I am not 20 or 30 anymore… this dish looks so yummy! and your pictures are beautiful as always Mary Ann… Have a great week
I’ve got you beat Gaila! At least I don’t feel my age! Thanks so much. I hope you give this recipe a go! Happy weekend!
I don’t even want to think about the extra pounds I put on here in Germany. As soon as I get home I will have to try to loose some of it and like you said it is not easy as we get older. Your bean ragout looks perfect for trying to reduce our calorie intake.
I would have a very hard time going to Germany and not indulging! The food there was tremendous! It’s tough as we get older, but we’re older and wiser right. It’s a trade-off!
Hi Mare! Looks yummy as always! I’m going to make this one tonight for Vaughn, I think we will love it! And easy enough for this noncooker! Way passed the 20’s here too and yikes weight surely creeps up now doesn’t it! Easter eats definitely added up here! Thanks for the post!
Hi Deb! We miss you guys! Hope all is well with the grandkids! Yes, this recipe is not hard at all. You can definitely manage it. I’ve made this one countless times. Mr. Picky won’t eat it because God forbid he’s eat a grape tomato! UGH! But I bet Vaughn will love it! It’s Bon Appetit approved!
This is a perfect healthy meal for a rainy night. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for stopping by to leave a comment! This one is the perfect rainy night comfort food. I hope you give it a try!
White beans with tomatoes over ciabatta??? You’ve stolen my heart with 3 of my favorite things here! Love this one Mary Ann :-)
So glad Lindsay! This is one of my favorite recipes!
I love using beans for all of their nutritional properties, but also I feel like they sort of “clean you up” after gorging on things like Easter candy!! Great recipe, I’m excited to try it!
I totally agree Katherine! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Thanks so much for dropping by to leave a comment!
Oh my garsh Mary Ann. . .I can’t get over the color of this dish. It is absolutely stunning and surely would wow anyone that crossed paths with it. As for as the LB’s. . .story of my life…which is why I drag my boo-TAY to the gym every day. The hubby is trying to convince me to do a Super Spartan. . .but I’m not sure I am ready to run 8 miles, drag my rear end over and through 29 obstacles and jump across fire. That said, I feel bad that he would be doing it alone. Such dilemmas . . .????
Oh Lord Lynn! I’ll match my husband up with your husband to get you out of it! Tom has been dying to do one of those. He has done 2 half Iron Man’s and one full Iron Man and tons of triathlons! I don’t know how he does it! That training for the full Iron Man was even exhausting to watch!
I love this recipe, Mary Ann! It brings back wonderful memories of white beans with rosemary that I dined on once in Florence. Healthy eating has never looked better! :)
So happy to hear it brings back good memories Laura. I love this recipe and have made it countless times over the years. Needed to share it on the blog!
LOVE the combo of beans on toast, so this is just perfection in my eyes!
Me too Tieghan! Such a filling toast recipe!
What a beautiful dish, Mary Ann… Looks like the kind of light, delicious dinner my husband and I would enjoy on the deck with a glass of wine on a quiet summer evening. Can’t wait!
Yes, perfect Michele. I know you’ll love this one! Happy weekend!
This sounds AMAZING. I’m afraid I would eat way too much of it though, to be considered diet food!
Lol! You’d love it Chris! Happy weekend!
THIS is my kinda meal. YUMMMM.
It’s so delicious Jennifer!
I love bean recipes like this, Mary Ann! Healthy yet comforting and a nutritional power house – the perfect way to end the day with a glass of red wine and a meal like this that leaves you feeling satisfied and content. Hope you’re having a good weekend!
I totally agree Geraldine! This dish is one of my favorites. I feel full for hours. Hope your weekend is going great too!
I’m also no longer in my 20s and definitely have had to do a whole lifestyle overhaul to lose weight and keep it off. I love healthy and filling meals like this one. I love white beans and I bet this is just so full of flavor!!
Me too Natasha! This one is quick and easy and so packed with flavor. Enjoy!
My mouth was watering as I was reading your blog post! The thought of this comfort meal of beans and toast is just perfect and so flavorful too! Love the shots as always! You always have beautiful styling.
You’d love this one Amisha. It’s so hearty and delicious. I hope you give it a go! Thanks you so much for your compliments! Much appreciated! Happy Sunday!
I love soffrito bases, and I am super excited to change it up and try it with red pepper. Love the color pop of the red tomato and the green parsley. So hearty!
This is definitely a hearty dish Cindy. I love it. Hope you give it a try!
Let’s just say that at 45, I know EXACTLY what you mean. A few days of indulgence shows up quickly on the scale these days.
And this dish looks absolutely heavenly. What I love is that I love this kind of meal every bit as much as something more indulgent. No sacrifice! Trying this recipe soon.
That darn scale! Sometimes I feel like throwing mine right out the window! I think you’ll absolutely enjoy this recipe Marissa!
Hi, ok hands up, I turned 28 last week & honestly struggle with the sane issues most of you listed here. I have a very hectic job & the weather in London is atricious right now… I just don’t feel like exercising at all! A bowl of this awesome ragout & a lovely book is all I want to cosy up to. I try eating very low calorie meals to avoid putting on weight (which I promise I do, if I’m not watching what I eat). Thank you for this lovely recipe, I will be sure to try it this week
You will LOVE this Eesha! It’s such a hearty meal! Let me know!
I just want to.say that I make this weekly and LOVE it so thank you!
You’re so welcome Emily!
Simple, inexpensive, warming and delicious! Thank you! This type of sauce was new to me, and the directions were clear. I used a large carrot instead of a red pepper, used canned tomatoes, and added some Italian spices at the end.
So happy you enjoyed it Belle! Thanks so much for following!