Octopus Cannellini And Arugula Salad Food

GRILLED OCTOPUS WITH CELERY AND CANNELLINI BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• To make the octopus: Coat a large saucepan with olive oil and toss in the garlic, carrot, celery and onion. Season with salt and crushed red pepper and bring the pan to a medium-high heat. Cook the veggies until they are soft and aromatic, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the vinegar and fill the pan with water. Season with salt, toss in the bay leaves and bring the water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the baby octopus and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from the liquid and let cool. (This part can sooooooo be done ahead.)
• To prep the salad: Coat a large straight-sided saute pan with olive oil, toss in the onions, season with salt and crushed red pepper. Bring the pan to a medium heat and cook the onions until they start to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Toss in the beans, chicken stock and celery and cook until the stock has reduced by a little more than half. Turn off the heat and reserve the bean mixture.
• Preheat the grill. Cut the heads off the octopus and cut the legs into sections of 2 legs. Oil the legs and place them on the grill to slightly char and heat up the octopus.
• In a large bowl, toss the arugula and celery leaves with the lemon juice and olive oil and season with salt. Divide among 4 serving plates and spoon some of the warm bean mixture onto the arugula. Arrange the legs between the plates. Drizzle with big fat finishing oil.
• Drain the beans from the soaking water and place in a medium saucepan. Toss in the garlic cloves, bay leaf, carrot, celery, thyme and onion. Add water to the pan until it covers the beans by about 2 inches.
• Put the pan on a high heat and bring the water to a boil, reduce to a simmer and simmer until the beans are very soft and tender, 35 to 40 minutes. Turn the heat off.
• Season the water generously with salt and let sit for 15 minutes. Drain the beans from the cooking liquid and remove the veggies, bay and thyme and discard. Yield: 2 1/2 cups cooked beans.

CANNELLINI BEAN, RED ONION, AND ARUGULA SALAD

Steps:

• Empty the cans of beans into a colander and rinse them briefly under cold water. Drain thoroughly and empty the colander into a large serving bowl. Toss the beans together with the red onion and arugula. Shake the olive oil, vinegar, chopped basil, salt and pepper in a sealable container until the salt is dissolved. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well. It's best to make and dress the salad about an hour before you serve it. Let it stand at room temperature, tossing every time you think about it. Just before serving, adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste. ;

ARUGULA AND CANNELLINI SALAD WITH OLIVE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Make vinaigrette: Combine olives and the water in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Process until olives are finely chopped. Add garlic, basil, vinegar, and cumin; process until mixture is smooth and combined, stopping to scrape sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.
• In a medium bowl, combine beans, tomatoes, and red onion, and gently toss. Pour vinaigrette over bean mixture, and toss well to coat. To serve, divide arugula leaves among four plates, and mound bean mixture on top.

ARUGULA SALAD WITH CANNELLINI BEANS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook the garlic in the hot oil about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, wine, sage, and thyme; increase the heat to medium-high and simmer 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the cannellini beans and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until beans are heated through, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Arrange the arugula on a serving platter. Spoon the bean mixture over the arugula. Top with the shaved Parmesan cheese if desired.

OCTOPUS, CANNELLINI AND ARUGULA SALAD

Steps:

• Cut tentacles from octopus and discard head. In a large kettle combine octopus, carrots, onion, parsley, peppercorns, cloves, bay leaf, and halved celery rib with water to cover. Bring water to a boil and simmer, covered, 40 minutes, or until octopus is tender. Remove kettle from heat and cool mixture 30 minutes.
• While octopus is cooking and cooling, in a saucepan simmer beans in 4 cups water, covered, 45 minutes, or until tender, and remove pan from heat. Cool beans in cooking liquid and drain.
• Transfer octopus with tongs to a colander and rinse gently under cold water to remove as much of purple outer coating as possible without removing suction cups. Drain octopus and cut into 1 1/2-inch-long pieces. In a bowl, combine octopus and beans. Salad may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
• Chop enough arugula (preferably larger leaves) to measure about 1/2 cup.
• In a large bowl toss together octopus and beans, chopped and whole arugula, celery slices, lemon juice, oil, red pepper flakes, and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

BRAISED CANNELLINI BEANS WITH ONIONS AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a 1-quart pot over a medium-high flame.
• Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly; the garlic should become aromatic and just lightly golden (do not burn it or it will taste acrid).
• Stir in the chili pepper and cook 15 more seconds.
• Add the onion and cook, still stirring, about 2 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent and soft.
• Stir in the pepper and parsley and cook 1 more minute.
• Fold in the rinsed and drained beans, and then stir in the tomato paste.
• Add enough cool water (or chicken broth if you happen to have it on hand) to cover the beans by 1/4 inch (about 1 and 1/2 cups, depending on the width of your pot).
• Season with the salt and bring to a gentle boil, uncovered.
• Cover and lower the heat to medium-low; cook for 5 minutes.
• Uncover, stir in the arugula, and cover again.
• Cook for another 15 minutes.
• Adjust the seasoning if needed and serve hot.

ARUGULA AND CANNELLINI SALAD WITH OLIVE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Make vinaigrett: Combine olives and the water in the bowl of a food processor. Process until olives are finely chopped. Add garlic, basil, vinegar, and cumin; process until mixture is smooth and combined, stopping to scrape sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.
• In a medium bowl, combine beans, tomatoes, and red onion, and gently toss.
• Pour vinaigrette over bean mixture and toss to coat.
• To serve: divide argula leaves among four plates and mound bean mixture on top.