Crispy Cavolo Nero with Crushed Butter Beans and Hazelnuts on Toast

Crispy Cavolo Nero with crushed butter beans on toast — the combination works perfectly. Top with crunchy caramelised hazelnuts for extra crunch.
Crispy cavolo nero with crushed butter beans and hazelnuts on toast

Fancy some crispy Cavolo Nero with crushed butter beans and hazelnuts on toast?

I’m very excited to be working on the Discover Great Veg–Go Green campaign. The challenge?

Create a delicious Cavolo Nero recipe.

Definitely a challenge I’m up for! I made crispy Cavolo Nero with crushed butter beans and hazelnuts on toast; and oh my goodness, it’s so good.

The combination of crispy Cavolo Nero with the creamy crushed butter beans works perfectly. Then dollop generously on toasted sourdough and topped with crunchy caramelised hazelnuts for extra crunch. As a side I roasted some cherry tomatoes which pop and create a lovely sauce.

This is exactly the type of dish I love to make for lunch. It’s not only delicious but hearty with the beans & greens.

Adding greens like Cavolo Nero is a brilliant and easy way of adding more nutrients to your meals. I love to serve it on its own–steamed, fried, baked or added to soups/stews etc for colour, taste, and texture – it complements a host of dishes.

It tastes delicious and this dark leafy green veg is bursting with health benefits. It is a good source of vitamins A and C which help the immune system function normally, lutein which can help with eye health, and vitamin K which helps to maintain normal bones. It is also a source of fibre and calcium, and contains manganese, copper, and iron.

Discover Great Veg provides inspiration for delicious ways to enjoy Cavolo Nero, leeks, spinach and kale, details on how they are grown, and information on what each offers as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Cavolo Nero is a brassica related to kale and was first grown in Italy in 600BC, for most of the year British Cavolo Nero is now grown in the rich soil of Lincolnshire. Thanks to its Tuscan heritage and its very distinctive long, dark leaves, Cavolo Nero is also known as Tuscan kale or, more commonly, black kale or black cabbage.

To find out more ways to Go Green, visit Discover Great Veg.

I hope you enjoy this delicious and healthy recipe!

Love, Niki xx

The Recipe

Crispy cavolo nero with crushed butter beans and hazelnuts on toast

Crispy Cavolo Nero with Crushed Butter Beans and Hazelnuts on Toast

Crispy Cavolo Nero with crushed butter beans on toast - the combination works perfectly. Top with crunchy caramelised hazelnuts for extra crunch.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
1-2 servings
No ratings yet

Ingredients

For the roast tomatoes

  • 250 g cherry tomatoes - I used yellow
  • Splash olive oil
  • Pinch sea salt flakes

For the Cavolo Nero

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 6 leaves of Cavolo Nero shredded
  • Big pinch sea salt flakes
  • Black pepper
  • Caramelised hazelnuts;
  • 3 tbsp hazelnuts
  • 1/2 tsp maple syrup
  • Pinch sea salt flakes

For the butter bean mash

  • 1 can butter beans drained
  • Juice 1/2 lemon
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp garlic granules
  • 1 tbsp tahini
  • 2 slices of toast of choice
  • Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

To roast the tomatoes

  • Add the cherry tomatoes to a large baking tray and toss them in 1 tbsp of olive oil. Bake on a medium heat for 25- 30 minutes or until soft and browning a little. Set aside.

To cook the Cavolo Nero

  • Add the olive oil to a frying pan and then add the Cavolo Nero.
  • Fry for a few minutes on a medium heat until cooked and crispy.
  • Add the sea salt and black pepper and then set aside.

To make the crushed butter beans

  • Add the butter beans into a bowl along with the other ingredients.
  • With a fork mash roughly, then add in 3/4 of the crispy Cavolo Nero. Stir to combine.

For the hazelnuts

  • Dry toast the hazelnuts in a pan for a few minutes until lightly toasted.
  • Remove from the heat, then crush slightly.
  • Add to a bowl and stir in the maple syrup and sea salt. Set aside.

To serve

  • Dollop the crushed beans onto the toast, top with caramelised hazelnuts, the remaining crispy Cavolo Nero and a drizzle of olive oil.
  • Serve with the roast tomatoes.
Print Recipe

I'd love to hear your comments…

  • Turmeric gram flour crepes with spiced butterbeans and roast yellow courgette and tomatoes
    3 years ago Reply

    […] month I asked you all to set me a challenge on Instagram to create a Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner dish only using one colour, and for the lunch dish you all […]

  • Saima
    4 years ago Reply

    I had never heard of Cavolo Nero before…you’ve added to my knowledge of greens! Along with the hazelnuts and cherry tomatoes, this looks absolutely divine:) If you don’t mind my asking, where did you get the plate you’re serving this toast on?! I can’t stop admiring it, lol!

    • Niki
      4 years ago Reply

      So happy you like!
      The plate is from a local shop, ill send info
      Love
      Niki xx

  • Maneesha
    4 years ago Reply

    Wow!! Do you think this can be made with regular kale? I have never seen cavolo nero in our supermarkets

    • Niki
      4 years ago Reply

      Hi Maneesha
      Cavolo Nero is absolutely delicious – so if you can find it amazing.
      But will definitely work with kale.
      Much love, Niki xx

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