Creamy Three Bean Stew Food

CREAMY WHITE BEANS WITH HERB OIL

Steps:

• Make the oil: In a food processor, combine chives, cilantro and basil, and pulse until finely chopped. Add olive oil, and pulse again until mixture is silky and emulsified. Transfer to a small bowl, stir in lemon juice and salt to taste. Set aside.
• Prepare the beans: In a 10-inch skillet, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cook until translucent, about 1 minute. Add beans to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the flavors have melded, about 2 to 3 minutes. With the back of a spoon or spatula, smash about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the beans and stir until they are incorporated into the rest of the bean mixture. A good portion of the remaining beans should maintain their structure.
• Add stock or water and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook until sauce becomes creamy and is reduced by about about half, about 1 to 2 minutes more. Smash additional beans and add a few more tablespoons of water, if needed, to reach desired consistency and stir again to combined.
• Transfer beans to a bowl and swirl with herb oil on top. Season with flaky salt, if desired.

CREAMY WHITE BEAN AND SEAWEED STEW WITH PARMESAN

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 1/4 cup oil over medium until hot but not smoking. Add the onion and 1 teaspoon salt and sauté until softened and lightly golden at the edges, 7 minutes. Add the carrots, celery, diced fennel and garlic and sauté until the garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Drain soaked beans and add to pot along with 2 quarts cold water, kombu, thyme sprigs and remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Lower heat, partially cover the pot and simmer gently until the beans are done, 1 to 2 hours. If the beans start to dry out before they are cooked, add a little hot water to the pot, or if they seem too soupy, remove the lid during the last half-hour.
• When beans are cooked, discard kombu and thyme sprigs. If you have an immersion blender, stick it in the pot and give it two or three pulses to create a creamy broth. Most of the beans should still be whole. Or, scoop out 1 cup of beans, purée them in a food processor or blender, and stir them back into the pot.
• Stir kelp into the pot and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes.
• If you have fennel fronds, chop enough to make 2 tablespoons and stir into the pot. To serve, ladle soup into bowls and top generously with Parmesan, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve with toast.