Vegan Bruschetta with Pesto and White Beans

Vegan Bruschetta with pesto and white beans  is a terrific appetizer or side dish. It’s the perfect snack for parties! This healthy recipe from What the Health by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn with Eunice Wong is super easy to make. It's oil free and dairy free, but full of flavor.

Vegan Bruschetta with Pesto & White Bean

The first recipe I made from What the Health was the Pesto White Bean Bruschetta. I wanted to try it because it’s a great appetizer for holiday parties, and I just can’t turn down a good pesto.

The oil-free pesto in this recipe is made with zucchini, which means you’re sneaking some veggies in where people might not be expecting them. Pairing the pesto with tomatoes and white beans makes this snack a terrific healthy snack option.

How to Make Vegan Bruschetta

This recipe is super easy to make!

• First you mix all of the pesto ingredients together in a food processor.
• Then you combine the tomatoes, beans, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
• Next you spread the pesto on the bread and top with the tomato and bean mixture.

Serve and enjoy!

What the Health

There’s a scene in the documentary What the Health that has stuck with me in the year or so since I watched it. Filmmaker Kip Anderson is interviewing Dr. Robert Ratner, the chief scientific and medical office of American Dietetic Association about the rise in diabetes in the U.S. Dr. Ratner explains that diet and exercise are to blame. But when Kip asks which diet in particular causes it, Dr. Ratner doesn’t have an answer. When Kip asks about studies that show a plant-based diet can both prevent and reverse diet, Dr. Ratner gets defensive and—for lack of a better word—freaks out. He ends the interview on the spot.

The encounter with Dr. Ratner isn’t the only strange behavior Kip Anderson and his film partner Keegan Kuhn encounter while working on What the Health. But fortunately, they do meet plenty of doctors who are willing to discuss the health benefits of a plant-based diet.

What the Health, the Book

Their new book, which is aptly titled What the Health, is a companion piece to the film. It chronicles their exploration of our broken about our industrial food, medical, and pharmaceutical systems. It also delves into the benefits of a whole-foods, plant-based diet, as well.

I have many books that cover the health benefits of a whole-foods, plant-based diet. What makes this one different is that it’s chock-full of knowledge from multiple sources. Kip and Keegan interviewed lots of experts, include Dr. Michael Greger, Dr. Joel Kahn, Dr. Michael Klapper, Dr. Milton Mills, and many, many others.

In What the Health, the health issues that arise from eating meat, eggs, and dairy products are discussed, and their rolls in the development of diseases such as diabetes and cancer are explained. The roll genetics plays in disease is explored, dietary myths are busted, and a few secrets are spilled.

Recipes

Because this book, or perhaps the film, might inspire you to go vegan, 50 plant-based recipes are included to help start your journey. These are simple dishes to help with your transition, and they include breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and drinks. Nothing is too “weird” or foreign, as they’re all healthy vegan versions of old favorites. You’ll find recipes for such delicious dishes as Creamy Mac, Burrito Bowls, Stuffed Bell Peppers, and Mom’s Ultimate Vegan Chili.

 

If you’ve resolved to adopt a plant-based diet or eat healthier in 2019, What the Health is the book for you!

Other delicious appetizer recipes you might enjoy include:

• Vegan Cheese & Zucchini Pinwheels
• Stuffed Mushrooms
• Spinach Artichoke Dip Bites
• Zucchini Fritters

More Pesto Recipes You Might Like Include:

• Tomato Tartlets with Spinach Pesto
• Potato, Pesto, and Arugula Pizza
• Portobello Sandwiches with Peaches and Pesto
• Pesto Pasta