Farro Cannellini Bean Chickpea And Mussels In Broth Food

LIDIA BASTIANICH'S MUSSELS WITH FARRO, CANNELLINI, AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Rinse the chickpeas, and place in a bowl with cold water covering them by 4 inches. Do the same with the cannellini, in a separate bowl. Soak both for 12 to 24 hours.
• Drain and rinse the chickpeas, and put them in a big saucepan with about 7 cups of fresh cold water. Set the pot over medium-high heat, and drop in the chopped carrot, celery, and onion, the halved cherry tomatoes, and 4 tablespoons of the olive oil. Bring the water to a boil, partially cover the pan, and adjust the heat to maintain a steady, bubbling simmer. Stir occasionally.
• After the chickpeas have cooked for an hour, drain and rinse the cannellini and stir into the pot. There should be at least an inch of liquid covering the beans; add more water if necessary. Return to the boil, partially cover, and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring now and then.
• Rinse the farro grains in a sieve, and stir in with the beans, along with the 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepperoncino. There should be about 1/2 inch of liquid covering the beans and grain; add more water if necessary. Return to the boil, partially cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes or longer, until the beans and the farro are tender - add water if needed to keep the beans and grains barely covered with liquid as they finish cooking. When they are done, most of the surface water should have been absorbed or evaporated, but the stew should be slightly soupy.
• While the farro cooks, prepare the mussels. Pour the remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil into the sauté pan, and scatter in the garlic cloves and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepperoncino. Cook for 3 minutes or so over medium-high heat, until the garlic is lightly colored, then add all the rinsed mussels at once. Tumble them around the pan quickly, to coat with oil, and put on the cover. Cook over high heat for about 2 minutes, shaking the covered pan a couple of times, just until the mussels are open, and take the pan off the stove.
• Shuck the mussels right over the pan, letting the juices and meat drop in. Discard the shells (and any mussels that did not open). If you like, leave a dozen or so mussels in the shell for a garnish.
• When the farro and beans are cooked, pour the shucked mussels and their juices into the pot and stir well - the consistency should be rather brothy. Heat to a boil, and cook for just a minute, to make sure everything is nice and hot. Taste, and adjust salt. Stir in the chopped parsley, and spoon portions into warm pasta bowls; garnish with unshucked mussels if you saved them. Drizzle good olive oil over each, and serve immediately.
• To prepare in advance: Cook the beans and farro until tender, following recipe, and remove from the heat. Let them sit in the saucepan up to 3 hours (they will absorb liquid and thicken). Shortly before serving, cook and shuck the mussels. Stir the mussel juices into the beans and farro and heat slowly to a simmer. Stir in the mussels and finish as above.

MUSSELS WITH FARRO, CANNELLINI, AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Rinse the chickpeas, and place in a bowl with cold water covering them by 4 inches. Do the same with the cannellini, in a separate bowl. Soak both for 12 to 24 hours.
• Drain and rinse the chickpeas, and put them in the big saucepan with about 7 cups of fresh cold water. Set the pot over medium-high heat, and drop in the chopped carrot, celery, and onion, the halved cherry tomatoes, and 4 tablespoons of the olive oil. Bring the water to a boil, partially cover the pan, and adjust the heat to maintain a steady, bubbling simmer. Stir occasionally.
• After the chickpeas have cooked for an hour, drain and rinse the cannellini and stir them into the pot. There should be at least an inch of liquid covering the beans; add more water if necessary. Return to the boil, partially cover, and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring now and then.
• Rinse the farro grains in a sieve, and stir in with the beans, along with the 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the peperoncino. There should be about 1/4 inch of liquid covering the beans and grain; add more water if necessary. Return to the boil, partially cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes or longer, until the beans and the farro are tender-add water if needed to keep the beans and grains barely covered with liquid as they finish cooking. When they are done, most of the surface water should have been absorbed or evaporated, but the stew should be slightly soupy.
• While the farro cooks, prepare the mussels. Pour the remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil in the sauté pan, and scatter in the garlic cloves and remaining 1/4 teaspoon peperoncino. Cook for 3 minutes or so over medium-high heat, until the garlic is lightly colored, then add all the rinsed mussels at once. Tumble them around the pan quickly, to coat with oil, and put on the cover. Cook over high heat for about 2 minutes, shaking the covered pan a couple of times, just until the mussels are open, and take the pan off the stove.
• Shuck the mussels right over the pan, letting the juices and meat drop in. Discard the shells (and any mussels that did not open). If you like, leave a dozen or so mussels in the shell for a garnish.
• When the farro and beans are cooked, pour the shucked mussels and their juices into the pot and stir well-the consistency should be rather brothy. Heat to the boil, and cook for just a minute, to make sure everything is nice and hot. Taste, and adjust salt. Stir in the chopped parsley, and spoon portions into warm pasta bowls; garnish with unshucked mussels if you saved them. Drizzle good olive oil over each, and serve immediately.
• To prepare in advance: Cook the beans and farro until tender, following recipe, and remove from the heat. Let them sit in the saucepan up to 3 hours (they will absorb liquid and thicken). Shortly before serving, cook and shuck the mussels. Stir the mussel juices into the beans and farro, and heat slowly to a simmer. Stir in the mussels, and finish as above.

CREAMY CHICKPEA & FARRO SOUP

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, heat the oil and then add the pancetta, carrots, onion, celery and garlic.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender and the pancetta pieces are lightly browned, about 8 minutes
• Add the chickpeas to the pot with the vegetables and cover everything with broth by at least 1 inch.
• Season with salt and pepper, oregano, and rosemary.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and slowly simmer for another 15 minutes or so to develop and meld the flavors.
• Remove half the bean and vegetable mixture, and puree until smooth in a food processor, then return to the pot.
• Add the farro to the pot, and simmer for about 25 minutes, or until the farro is just about tender to the bite. If the soup gets too thick, add additional broth to thin as needed.
• Taste, and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
• Serve in individual bowls topped with some cracked black pepper and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
• Sprinkle top of soup with the crispy pancetta bits if using and serve.

FARRO, CANNELLINI BEAN, CHICKPEA, AND MUSSELS IN BROTH

Steps:

• Bring the 3 cups of water to boil in a medium saucepan over high heat; add the farro, cover, and return to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cook until the farro is just barely tender, about 45 minutes.
• While the farro is cooking, heat a large stockpot over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add carrot, celery, and onion, and cook until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add the halved cherry tomatoes, ¼ cup olive oil, and chickpeas, and just enough water to barely cover the mixture. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
• When the farro is cooked, add it to the stockpot along with the cannellini beans, salt and red pepper flakes. Stir together, cover, and set aside (or refrigerate if serving the next day).
• Pour the remaining ¼ cup olive oil into a large sauté pan over medium high heat and add the garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes then add all the mussels at once. Stir the mussels a bit, then cover and cook over medium high heat until the mussels open fully, about 3-4 minutes. Be sure to uncover the pan every minute or so to stir the mussels to ensure they all open.
• Shuck the mussels right over the pan, letting the juices and meat drop in. Discard the shells (and any mussels that did not open). If serving immediately, stir the cooked mussels and their juices into the farro and beans. The consistency should be very broth. Stir in the chopped parsley and serve. Drizzle with high quality extra virgin olive oil and serve immediately.
• If serving the next day, place the mussels and their juices into a covered container in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, heat the farro and beans to a simmer, stir in the mussels and their juices, and continue cooking until heated through. Stir in fresh parsley before serving.

FARRO SOUP WITH KALE AND CANNELLINI

Steps:

• Set the farro in a large bowl or spouted glass measuring cup and add ample cold water to cover. Set aside while you cook the beans.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large, heavy pot over medium­high heat. Stir in the onion, carrot, and celery. Cook until the onion softens, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook until the onion is lightly browned, a few minutes more.
• Drain the cannellini beans and add them to the pot. Add 8 cups of water. Bring the liquid to a boil, then cover the pot and simmer until the beans are almost tender, 40 to 60 minutes (depending on age and storage conditions).
• Drain the farro. Add the farro, tomatoes, and salt. Return to a boil, then cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the kale: Discard a few inches of the tough root ends. Thinly slice the stems and coarsely chop the leaves. Rinse well by dunking it in a large bowl or sink full of water. Drain well.
• When the farro has simmered for 10 minutes, stir in the kale gradually, adding more as each batch wilts. Cover and continue cooking until the beans, farro, and kale are tender, usually 10 to 20 minutes more. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil, the basil, cheese, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Express Farro and Chickpea Soup
• Soak the farro for 10 to 15 minutes. Instead of dried cannellini beans, substitute 1 can (16 or 19 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed. Add them when you add the drained farro.

CHICKEN FRICASSEE WITH SPINACH AND CANNELLINI BEANS

Steps:

• In a heavy large pot heat oil over medium.
• Add in the mushroom slices and cook until all the liquid is evaporated (about 8 minutes).
• Add in the onions, garlic, dryed pepper flakes and thyme; saute over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
• Add in sherry; simmer for 2 minutes.
• Transfer the mixture to a small bowl.
• Season the chicken strips with seasoning salt and pepper.
• Add in more oil if neded to the pot.
• Add in the chicken, stirring until browned.
• Add in 2 tablespoons flour stir to coat the chicken evenly.
• Add in the chicken broth with the onion/mushroom mixture; bring to a boil, stirring with a wooden spoon; simmer for about 25 minutes (you can cook a little longer if desired).
• After about 25 minutes, add in the spinach chopped spinach, whipping cream, mustard and paprika (if using); simmer for about 5 minutes (at this point you can add in about 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese if desired) then season with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle with more grated Parmesan cheese, or pass the cheese at the table.

TUSCAN FARRO AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Pick over and rinse beans. Soak in cold water to cover by 2 inches at least 8 hours and up to 12 hours. Alternatively, quick-soak beans. Drain well.
• Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook onion, carrots, celery, and garlic, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in water, drained beans, tomato, parsley, sage, and thyme and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook at a bare simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally and adding more water if necessary to keep beans covered, until beans are tender, 2 to 3 hours.
• Discard thyme sprigs, then blend mixture in batches in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids), transferring to a large bowl. Return soup to pot and bring to a boil. Add farro and salt, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until farro is tender (it will be chewy like barley), about 30 minutes. Stir in pepper and serve drizzled with additional oil.

CHICKPEA AND CANNELLINI BEAN DIP

Steps:

• Add all of the ingredients into a food processor bowl as you prepare them.
• Pulse until the dip reaches desired consistency, adding more olive oil or some water if it's too thick. I like mine almost smooth.