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Vegetarian, Busy evenings

White beans in tomato sauce with garlic toast

White beans in tomato sauce is a simmered dish flavored with thyme and bay leaf, served with garlic rubbed toast. It takes 35 minutes for 4 people, rates as very easy, and costs about €1.30 per serving. The trick is finishing the simmer uncovered, which thickens the sauce so it clings to every bean.

White beans simmered in tomato and thyme, with garlic rubbed toast on the side, a soft and comforting dinner.

White beans in tomato sauce with garlic toast
Total time
35 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€1.30
Calories per person
440 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter
The kids
They generally like it

This is a gentle, homey dish, soft white beans sitting in a tomato sauce perfumed with thyme and bay leaf, with just enough carrot for a touch of sweetness. The texture comes from the sauce itself, thickened by mashing a few beans against the side of the pot, no cream or flour needed. Garlic rubbed toast adds the crunch the dish would otherwise miss.

It's the kind of dinner you throw together on a weeknight without much thought, built from pantry staples and a couple of fresh vegetables. Kids like dunking their bread in it, and adults appreciate how filling it is without feeling heavy. Mon Chou likes to slot it into fall and winter menus, for nights when you want something warm without spending the whole evening at the stove.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Canned white beansoften in the pantry 800 g
  • Crushed tomatoesoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Bay leavesoften in the pantry 2
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 4 cloves
  • Carrot 1
  • Thyme 4 sprigs
  • Parsley 1 sprigs

Bakery

  • Country bread 8 slices

Allergens Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Slice the onion, dice the carrot finely, and sauté them in the oil. 8 min

    Small, even dice cook quickly and melt into the sauce.

  2. Add one crushed garlic clove, the tomatoes, thyme, bay leaves, salt and pepper, then let it simmer. 10 min

    Pull the bay leaves out before serving, nobody wants to bite into one.

  3. Rinse the beans, stir them into the sauce, and let everything simmer gently over low heat. 12 min

    Mash a ladle of beans against the side of the pot, it makes the sauce silky.

  4. Toast the bread slices, then rub them with a garlic clove and drizzle with a bit of olive oil. 5 min

    Rub the garlic on the bread while it's still hot, it melts right into the crust.

  5. Serve the beans sprinkled with parsley, with the toast on the side for dipping.

    A drizzle of raw olive oil over the beans right before serving makes a real difference.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use good quality crushed tomatoes, they carry most of the flavor here and there's not much else to hide behind them.
  • Let the bay leaf simmer the whole time but pull it out before serving, it does its job without anyone having to chew on it.
  • If the sauce looks too thin at the end, simmer a few more minutes uncovered rather than reaching for flour.

The variations

  • Swap the white beans for chickpeas or red lentils for a different texture, adjusting the cooking time slightly.
  • For more kick, add a pinch of chili flakes or Espelette pepper along with the tomatoes.
  • To save time, skip dicing the carrot and use tomatoes already seasoned with garlic and herbs.

What to serve it with

  • A green salad with vinaigrette
  • A poached egg on top
  • Grated cheese at the end

Storage

The beans keep for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, and they actually taste better the next day. This dish freezes well for up to 2 months in individual portions. Reheat gently in a saucepan, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much.

Questions about this dish

Can I use dried white beans instead of canned?

Yes, but soak them overnight and cook them for about an hour before adding them to the sauce. Canned beans, already cooked and rinsed, stay the fastest option for this dish.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes, make the sauce and beans the day before, they taste even better reheated. Save the toast for the last minute so it stays crisp.

How do I adapt this recipe for young kids?

Blend a small portion of beans and sauce if the texture bothers them, and cut the toast into thin strips for dipping. Thyme and bay leaf are mild and work fine for younger palates.

What bread works best for the toast?

A country style loaf with a dense crumb and thick crust holds up better to grilling and dunking. Avoid soft sandwich bread, it tears once toasted.

How long does it take to make white beans in tomato sauce with garlic toast?

Count 35 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in white beans in tomato sauce with garlic toast?

About 440 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does white beans in tomato sauce with garlic toast cost?

About €1.30 per serving, or €5.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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