Kale White Bean And Prosciutto Crostini Food

KALE AND WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• If you can get fresh kale from a garden, wash it, shake off excess water, and store it in a partially airtight container in the frig for 3-4 days. As it "ages," it sweetens.
• Heat the olive oil slowly in a large frying pan.
• While the oil is heating, chop the kale in large strips. Set aside.
• Saute onion and garlic over medium-low heat until they begin to turn color. Do not burn.
• Throughout the rest of this prepartion do not overheat the oil. Medium should be the right temperature.
• Stir in the brown sugar, oregano, and thyme. Stir gently for another minute or two until the sugar has disappeared.
• If you need to add a bit more olive oil, do so at this point. You need a thin layer of hot oil covering the bottom of the pan.
• Stir the chopped kale into the hot oil mix. Kale may look to be too much to fit in the pan, but be patient; as you stir it in, it begins to wilt down to a manageable size. Stir the kale gently for a few minutes, just long enough to cook it down a bit. Do not let it become soft.
• Stir in the drained, rinsed beans, the balsamic vinegar, and the salt.
• Lay the tomato slices on top.
• Lay the thinly sliced asiago cheese on top of the tomatoes.
• Turn off heat or turn down very low, cover and let steam for 5 minutes. Serve hot.

KALE, WHITE BEAN, AND FARRO STEW

Steps:

• Blend contents of 1 can cannellini beans with its liquid in a blender until pureed.
• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir celery, carrots, Spanish onion, and leek in hot oil until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes; add garlic and continue cooking until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes more.
• Stir farro into the vegetable mixture; add water, pureed cannellini beans, the drained cannellini beans, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, zucchini, tomato paste, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Stir the mixture well and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, place a cover on the pot, and simmer until the farro is tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Stir kale, salt, and pepper into the stew. Add more water to the stew if needed to keep everything covered in liquid and continue cooking until the kale is bright green and fully tender, about 30 minutes more.

WHITE-BEAN AND CAPER CROSTINI

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine cannellini beans, onion, capers, olive oil, and white-wine vinegar. Mix, mashing beans slightly; season with salt and pepper. Top crostini with topping.

KALE, WHITE BEAN, AND PROSCIUTTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Whisk together 2 tablespoons oil, the vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Add beans, and toss to coat.
• Arrange prosciutto in a single layer in a large saute pan. Cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
• Add remaining tablespoon oil, the garlic, and red-pepper flakes to pan, and cook over medium heat for 1 minute. Add wine and kale. Cover and cook, stirring once, until wilted. Stir in bean mixture and prosciutto, and season with salt and pepper. Spoon onto baguette slices, and drizzle with oil.

WHITE BEAN AND PROSCIUTTO CROSTINI WITH SAGE

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor combine the 3 smashed garlic cloves, prosciutto, crushed red pepper, and 3 cans of beans. Add 1/4 cup olive oil and puree until smooth. If the mixture seems too thick add more olive oil; the mixture should be fairly loose. Taste to see if the mixture needs salt (it probably will). Add the remaining can of beans and pulse to combine (the mixture should be a little bit coarse). Taste again to see if it needs salt. It should be creamy and a little chunky and really well flavored. Remove from the food processor to a large bowl and reserve at room temperature.
• Preheat a grill pan over medium heat.
• Grill the baguette slices on both sides on the preheated grill pan. When the bread looks slightly charred and is crispy remove them and rub each crostini with the raw garlic cloves.
• Top each toast with a big schmear of the bean puree and a drizzle of olive oil. Garnish with sage and arrange on serving platters to serve. Bravissimo!

WHITE BEAN-PROSCIUTTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Combine 2 finely chopped garlic cloves, 2/3 cup diced prosciutto, a pinch of red pepper flakes and one 15-ounce can cannellini beans (drained and rinsed) in a food processor. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil and puree until smooth, adding a splash of water to loosen; season with salt. Add 1 more can cannellini beans and pulse until just combined but still a little chunky. Add more salt to taste. Toast 1 sliced baguette in a grill pan; rub with a garlic clove. Spread each piece with the bean puree, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with chopped sage.

WHITE BEANS WITH PROSCIUTTO AND SAGE

Steps:

• Cook beans according to package directions, substituting 1 cup broth for 1 cup water. Cook until tender but not mushy. Drain and place in large bowl.
• Trim off root and all but 1" of green tope from the leeks. Slice in quarters lenghthwise, and wash thoroughly.
• Place leeks in microwave safe dish with remaining broth, cover with plastic wrap, and cook on high for 4-5 minutes, until tender. Drain, reserving chicken broth.
• Cut prosciutto lengthwise into narrow ribbons. Slice leeks crosswise into 1/8" slices. Saute leeks and garlic in olive oil until garlic is soft. Add the chopped sage, rosemary, and reserved broth and simmer until reduced slightly. Remove from heat and stir in prosciutto and lemon juice. Add to the beans and toss carefully with a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper.
• Garnish with sage and peppers. (The salad may be refrigerated up to 24 hours ahead. Return to room temperature before serving).

WHITE BEAN CROSTINI

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the beans, 1/4 cup oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Cover and process until smooth. Add olives and thyme; process until blended. , Place bread on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with remaining oil. Broil 3-4 in. from the heat for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly. Spread each slice with 1 tablespoon bean mixture. Garnish with olives and thyme if desired.