Fennel Borlotti Bean And Polenta Bake Food

FENNEL POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Place the fennel bulbs and water in a roasting pan on the lowest rack of the oven, roast about one hour, until very tender. Remove and allow to cool slightly. Chop coarsely, place in a food processor with two tablespoons of the milk and process until smooth. Set aside.
• In a large saucepan, combine the remaining milk, the stock, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer. Slowly whisk in the cornmeal. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the mixture is thick enough to allow the spoon to stand up in it, about 15 minutes. Stir in the fennel puree, the chopped fennel greens and the butter. Adjust seasonings.
• Line a baking pan 9 by 13 inches with parchment paper. Spread the polenta in the pan, smooth the surface and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for four hours, until firm.
• Cut the polenta into three-inch squares. Invert the pan to unmold them, then refrigerate them until ready to cook. Reheat the polenta by sauteing it in butter in a nonstick skillet or brushing it with butter or oil and grilling or broiling the squares until they are lightly browned and heated through. Keep in a warm oven until all the squares are browned, then serve.

BEANS AND GREENS POLENTA BAKE

Steps:

• Pour warm polenta into a large ovenproof skillet or a ceramic baking dish or metal baking pan and spread into an even layer (ideally about 1" thick). Let cool, then cover and chill at least 1 hour and up to 1 week.
• Preheat oven to 500°F. Heat garlic and ¼ cup oil in a large skillet over medium, stirring occasionally, until garlic is fragrant and starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Add beans and red pepper flakes (if using), then, working in batches, add kale, letting it wilt slightly after each addition before adding more, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and evenly darkened in color, about 3 minutes. Stir in vinegar and salt and cook, still stirring occasionally, until liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in ¼ cup Parmesan.
• Scrape kale mixture over prepared polenta and spread into an even layer. Drizzle with more oil and sprinkle with more Parmesan.
• Transfer skillet to oven and bake until polenta is warmed through and topping is lightly crisped and browned, 8-10 minutes.

BORLOTTI BEANS WITH HOT ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Place Borlotti beans, garlic cloves and 1-bay leaf in a bowl. Cover with water and soak over night. Rinse under cold water before using.
• Pre-heat oven to 325°F.
• In a Dutch oven melt butter, add olive oil and bay leaves. Add Italian sausages and brown on all sides. Remove sausages and place on a sheet pan with parchment paper. Bake Italian Sausages for 20-minutes. Hold sausages for service.
• Add onions, Serrano pepper and sauté until tender. Add chopped garlic and sauté 1-2 minutes.
• Add Pinot Noir Wine and reduce by half. Add Fresh Herbs, season with fine sea salt and fresh ground black pepper.
• Add Ham Stock, Borlotti Beans and bring to a full boil. Cover the beans, reduce to a simmer for 1-hour or until Borlotti Beans are tender. Stir the pot several times to prevent beans from burning.
• Add the cooked Hot Italian Sausages and simmer for 15-minutes.
• Season the beans with fine sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste. Serve in warm soup bowls.
• Garnish the beans with Fresh Chopped Green Onions.