White Beans Food

BASIC WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Soak the beans. Rinse the dried beans in water and put them in a large bowl. Cover with at least 4 times their volume of water and leave to soak overnight.
• Drain and rinse the beans and put them into a pot with a heavy lid. Add just enough cold water to cover them.
• Add the rosemary, garlic, and a drizzle of olive oil. Bring the beans to a boil, then cover and simmer them gently for 20 to 30 minutes or until the beans are tender but not mushy. The cooking time will depend on the size and age of the beans. Smaller and newer beans will require a shorter cooking time, so check on them after 20 minutes.

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.

WHITE BEAN DIP

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the beans, roasted garlic, olive oil and lemon juice and process until smooth. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley leaves and serve with your favorite vegetables.

WHITE BEANS WITH TARRAGON

Steps:

• Soak beans covered by 2" of water for at least twelve hours, adding water if needed; drain and rinse.
• Put beans in a soup pot with water to cover; add peppercorns, loosely, inside a single-layer cheesecloth bag or inside a tea strainer; bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes; skim foam from the top.
• Lower heat and simmer beans, uncovered until beans are tender but not mushy, 2-2 1/4 hours; add water during cooking to keep beans covered.
• Reserve 1/4 cup cooking liquid; drain beans and return to pot or serving bowl; add olive oil, reserved cooking liquid, coarse salt, white pepper and tarragon, mixing well.
• Serve hot or room temperature; drizzle with more oil, if desired.

BRAISED WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Rinse the beans and put in a large pan with 1 onion, 1 carrot and 1 celery stick, all halved, 1 unpeeled garlic clove and the bouquet garni. Cover with water, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 30-45 mins, until the beans are almost tender but holding their shape.
• Meanwhile, chop the remaining onion, carrots and celery stick. Peel and finely chop the remaining garlic. Heat the butter and oil in a large pan, add the vegetables and gently fry for 10 mins until lightly coloured.
• Drain the beans, reserving the cooking liquid. Fish out and discard the whole vegetables and bouquet garni. Add the beans to the pan of vegetables with the tomatoes and sufficient reserved cooking liquid to just cover them. Top up with boiling water if necessary. Add plenty of salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for about 30 mins until the beans and vegetables are tender, then scatter with parsley, to serve.

WHITE BEANS & RICE

Steps:

• Wash beans & add to stew pot, boil for 30-45 minutes.
• Brown ham in 1 tsp of oil until just brown.
• Remove ham & add 1 tsp of oil, onion, celery, bell pepper & garlic, cook until soft. (If sticky, just add a LITTLE water.).
• Add ham back to skillet and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes.
• Add skillet mixture to beans & season with salt, cayenne pepper, & bay leaves. (You can use more or less of any of the seasonings to suit your taste. Taste the liquid to make sure that it agrees to your tastes.).
• Cook in stewpot until beans are soft. (4-6 hours).
• Remove 1 1/2 cups of beans & mash. Add mashed beans back to mixture.
• Serve beans over rice.