Tuscan Beans With Sage Food

TUSCAN WHITE BEANS WITH FRESH SAGE

Steps:

• 1. Add rinsed beans to a large bowl and cover with cold water. Cover and set aside for at least 8 hours or overnight. 2. Drain and rinse beans and transfer to a large stock pot or Dutch oven. Cover with 2-3 inches of cold water and add 2 tablespoons regular olive oil, garlic, bay leaves, fresh herbs, salt, and black peppercorns. Bring to a low boil for one minute over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low. Remove and discard any foam that collects on the surface while boiling. 3. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 1½ hours or until beans are tender. Remove from heat and let beans cool in the pot with the cooking liquid for 15-20 minutes. Note: Actual cooking time will depend on the size and age of the beans. Smaller, fresher beans will take less time than larger, older ones. Check for doneness after 45 minutes and adjust cooking time accordingly. Beans should be tender, but not mushy. 4. Carefully drain beans, reserving some of the liquid to use in soups or stews, if desired. Remove and discard the solids from the cooking process before transferring the beans to a serving container. Season with salt and black pepper, if desired, and drizzle with high-quality olive oil to serve. Enjoy!

TUSCAN WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Cook 2 smashed garlic cloves and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes in olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, 1 minute. Add 1 chopped plum tomato and 1 sprig rosemary and cook 2 minutes. Add 2 cans drained, rinsed cannellini beans and cook, partially smashing the beans with a spoon, 5 minutes. Remove the rosemary. Stir in 1/2 cup water and some chopped parsley; season with salt. Sprinkle with parmesan and broil until golden. Drizzle with olive oil.

TUSCAN BEANS WITH TUNA

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and chopped sage and cook until the garlic just starts to brown, about 4 minutes. Add the beans (including the liquid from the cans) and 1 cup water. Increase the heat to medium high and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes. Add the kale and cook, stirring occasionally, until the kale is tender and the liquid looks creamy, 8 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, toss the tomatoes, celery, olives and roasted peppers in a medium bowl. Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat, then fry the sage leaves until crisp, 3 to 4 minutes; drain on paper towels. Reserve the oil.
• Break the tuna into large chunks and divide among shallow bowls. Spoon the bean mixture around the tuna and top with the olive salad and fried sage. Drizzle with the reserved sage oil and season with salt.

CANNELLINI BEANS WITH GARLIC AND SAGE

Steps:

• Place beans in large bowl. Cover with cold water (at least 6 cups) and let soak overnight.
• Drain beans. Place in heavy large pot. Add 8 cups room-temperature water, 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, sage, and black peppercorns. Bring to simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to mediumlow; simmer uncovered 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Mix in 1 teaspoon coarse salt. Continue to simmer until beans are tender, adding more water if needed to keep beans covered, about 30 minutes longer. Cool beans in liquid 1 hour.
• Using slotted spoon, transfer beans to serving bowl, reserving bean cooking liquid, if desired, but discarding garlic, sage, and peppercorns. Season beans to taste with pepper and more coarse salt. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and serve.

TUSCAN WHITE BEANS WITH SAGE

Steps:

• Saute the onion, garlic, and carrots in the olive oil until the onions are translucent. Add in the sage, cook until aromatic.
• Add the can of tomatoes, heat through.
• Add the white beans, return to a simmer, and simmer as long as you like (the longer, the yummier, honestly!).
• Just before serving, stir in the lemon juice.
• This dish holds up well to slight modifications. I have put in a stalk of celery, diced, with the onions and carrots. I have added a little dried rosemary with the white beans. All quite tasty. For omnivores, this dish is delicious with a few shrimp sauteed in butter and garlic served on top.

TUSCAN BEAN STEW WITH SAUSAGES

Steps:

• Add the olive oil to a large pot on a medium/low heat. Peel the garlic cloves but keep whole and add them to the pot with the sage leaves.
• When the garlic starts to take on some colour add the beans with 6 tbsp of their cooking liquid and the passata (pureed tomatoes).
• Let the beans simmer for around 10 minutes. Cut each sausage into three then add them to the beans.
• Season with a salt and pepper and continue to simmer the bean stew gently until the sausages are cooked through (around 15-20 minutes). Stir it every so often but be careful not to mash up the beans.
• Once ready, remove the garlic cloves and serve. Serve with salad and crusty bread.

TUSCAN BEAN SALAD WITH SAGE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Serve at room temperature.
• DRY BEANS DIRECTIONS: May use 1-1/4 cups dried cannellini beans or 1/2 pound great northern beans, soaked overnight.
• Drain soaked beans.
• Place beans and onion in a medium pot; cover with 2 quarts of water. Simmer 30 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper.
• Cook 30 minutes more or until tender but not mushy.
• Drain. Place in a large bowl and cool.
• When cool, stir in the remaining ingredients.
• Serve at room temperature.
• TIP: For those who don't like celery, use a vegetable peeler to remove the stringy bits on the back of the stalk. This makes the flavor milder and the texture more palatable.

WHITE BEANS WITH SAGE AND OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• Place beans in large saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover by 3 inches and let soak overnight.
• Drain beans and return to pan. Add 6 cups cold water, 1/4 cup oil, chopped sage and garlic. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover partially; simmer until beans are just tender, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool. Cover and keep chilled. Rewarm before continuing.)
• Using slotted spoon, transfer beans to bowl. Top with more oil.

TUSCAN WHITE BEANS WITH SAUSAGE AND SAGE

Steps:

• Drain the beans. Combine the drained beans with water in a large pot. Bring to a boil, skim off the foam, and reduce the heat to low. Add the halved onion, 2 of the minced garlic cloves, half the sage and the bay leaf. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and cover. Allow to simmer for 1 1/2 hours, until the beans are very tender. Drain over a bowl and measure out 2 1/2 cups of the broth. Discard the halved onion and bay leaf.
• While the beans are cooking, heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sausage. Stir until the sausage has browned lightly, about 7 to 11 minutes. Add the chopped onions, carrots, celery and parsley. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
• Add the remaining garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, the remaining sage, reserved beans and reserved broth, and continue cooking for 30 minutes. Adjust seasoning as desired with salt and pepper. Serve hot with passed grated parmesan cheese and country bread.