Bruschetta with Shrimp, Mushrooms and Green Garbanzo Beans

Before we go any further here, I need to come clean about something.

I don’t know exactly how it happened, or what was going on inside the cerebral mass inside my head skull, but it did happen. And I can’t go back and fix it. I’ll never be able to go back and correct the perfidy of my ways. But I’m hoping that after I confess with well-practiced puppy dog eyes and broken kneecaps, you’ll find some way to some day understand and maybe even take a baby step or a teensy kiss towards forgiveness. Here goes…

I forgot to garnish.

 

PLEASE. NO. I KNOW. SIT DOWN. STOP. OW THAT’S MY HAIR.

 

I didn’t even realize it until I sat down to edit. I had ravenously and not at all graciously scarfed down all but a crumb of these things, only to start clicking through pictures and wondering, “What the h, dude. These look weird. They look naked. Am I losing my touch? Did I even have a touch? Was my touch actually more like a lizard in the most barren of deserts with its sticky webbed-paw sticker hand things that when they touch glass everyone in the room hurls because it looks nastier than skunk city? What is going ON with this brusche – OHHHHH BASILPARSCHIVECRAAAAAP.”

 

This is what happens when you spend 75 hours trying to figure out why Jess and Nick won’t just GET TOGETHER ALREADY. Can’t they see it? Am I the only one who craves this? Should I just let the dream die? Get a life perhaps?

(I’m hoping that by bringing up a new subject, you’ll forget all out the tragedy that unfolded before your eyes only a mere 15 seconds ago.)

 

And I have one more picture left, so I guess I should tell you a smidge about this here bruschetta dinner, n’est pas?

It’s what you make when you have zero brain cells and .0000001 oz of energy left in your bawdy. It’s quicker ‘n a snipper and you can serve it all on a huge platter, sit down on the floor on a rug with your man or woman with a bottle of wine and a green salad and most definitely another bottle of wine.

It’s got everything you need in life. Seared shrimp, sauteed garlic, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, green garbanzo beans (for real), and crusty french bread. And lots of parmesan shavings. And loads of fresh herbs that you’re pretending to see on top.

Would someone please garnish my brain?

Bruschetta with Shrimp, Mushrooms and Green Garbanzo Beans:

What it took for about 10 bruschetta. Or is it bruschettas? Or is it bruschetti?:

* 1 loaf french bread, cut into 1-inch slices (or thinner)
* 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
* 2 cloves garlic, one cut in half and the other minced
* 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
* 8 oz mixed mushrooms, sliced if needed
* 1/2 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
* 1 cup frozen green garbanzo beans, thawed
* 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
* fresh parsley for garnish (which I totally spaced on, go figure)
* coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 350.

Drizzle the bread with 1 Tbs olive oil. Take the halved garlic clove and rub it against the slices. Slide her into the oven and bake until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Remove, or turn the oven off and let them hang out inside to keep warm.

Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium high. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and add them to the pan, searing for 2 minutes on one side. Flip and sear 1 more minute. Remove from heat and set aside.

Back in the pan reduce the heat just a tad and add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Bloom about 15 seconds. Then add the mushrooms. You can add a little more oil if needed. Saute them until they start to brown slightly, 5 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the tomatoes and green garbanzo beans to the pan. Continue to saute for another 3 minutes, until everything is freaking gorgeous and you want to climb into it.

Place the toasted bread on a serving platter and spoon the shrimp mixture goodness all over it. Give it one more pinch of salt, another grind of pepper and garnish with lots of chopped parsley. Let’s pretend I did that, for the love.

Eat!

, , , , ,

18 Responses to Bruschetta with Shrimp, Mushrooms and Green Garbanzo Beans

  1. Barbara May 3, 2012 at 1:33 pm #
    The topping will make it to my mouth before it makes it to the toast. Looks so good!!
  2. Ryan @ Spicy Richmond May 3, 2012 at 1:45 pm #
    Such a different take on bruschetta! Looks yummy!
  3. Villy @ For the love of Feeding May 3, 2012 at 1:55 pm #
    I've betted on Nick and Jess getting together since episode 1. It'll happen, you'll see! Bruschetta is the way to go now that the temperatures are rising! Yum!
  4. Katie (Epicurean Mom Blog) May 3, 2012 at 2:42 pm #
    Whoaaaa!! Brilliant! Simply brilliant!
  5. Averie @ Averie Cooks May 3, 2012 at 2:52 pm #
    I love beans and tomatoes...mmm, bruschetta for breakfast anyone? :)
  6. Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray May 3, 2012 at 3:02 pm #
    Why is this not my lunch today. Grawr.
  7. Cindy May 3, 2012 at 6:53 pm #
    LOL.....I cook for 8, aboard a sailing yacht and every other meal forget to garnish.....even though I have said herbs all chopped to go!!!! WHAT is that all about?! Captain says too much salt air on the brain....... don't know what your excuse can be.....construction dust? THAT's IT!! Whew....problem solved girlfriend! LOVE your blog!
  8. juliawannabe May 3, 2012 at 7:34 pm #
    The "undisputed king of cheese" (according to Mario Batali) is really the garnish. No need to apologize :) Cindy...how can I get a job cooking for sailors?
  9. Lauren May 3, 2012 at 8:04 pm #
    Those mushrooms are wild!!! Love these, Bev!!
  10. jenna May 3, 2012 at 10:01 pm #
    i've been looking for a perfect bruschetta recipe...i think my search is over. can't wait to try this.
  11. DessertForTwo May 3, 2012 at 10:21 pm #
    I forgive you. Well, I don't know. I'm going to have to think about it for a while. You might have to cook for me when I get to Kansas as an apology. Deal??
  12. Katie May 3, 2012 at 11:19 pm #
    This looks fab! Love that it's not your ordinary bruschetta!
  13. Heather May 4, 2012 at 1:51 am #
    girl, i have the same constant wondering thought about nick and jess...they need to get together so i can get on with my life!
  14. Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious May 4, 2012 at 4:17 am #
    I forgive you for not garnishing. Why? Because this looks fabulous as is! It doesn't need any garnish! :)
  15. Katz May 4, 2012 at 4:38 am #
    Garnish? We don't need no stinkin' garnish!! Seriously, it looks scrumptious just the way it is!
  16. Marina {YummyMummyKitchen.com} May 4, 2012 at 5:30 am #
    Oh man, you just took bruschetta to another amazing level. I wish I had this for a midnight snack tonight! Have a great weekend, Bev!
  17. Fresh Daily Deals at Waka Network May 5, 2012 at 6:08 am #
    Lovely photos! My comfort food for breakfast!
  18. Deborah May 6, 2012 at 2:49 am #
    With or without the garnish - I want!!

Leave a Reply