White Beans And Kale 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.

WHITE BEANS WITH KALE AND RICE

Steps:

• Stack the kale leaves and cut in wide ribbons or chop coarsely. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, and add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until the onion softens, about five minutes. Add half the garlic, and stir together for 30 seconds to a minute until fragrant.
• Add the beans, bay leaf, and 2 quarts water. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat and lightly boil for one hour. Add the remaining garlic and salt to taste, and simmer for another 30 minutes to an hour until the beans are tender. At this point, most of the liquid may have boiled away, as the mixture becomes dry, add chicken broth, 1/2 cup at a time as it boils away. Continue to do so throughout the rest of the steps/process.
• Add the rice and pepper, and simmer 15 minutes until the rice is tender. Stir in the kale leaves, and simmer another five to 10 minutes until the kale is tender but still bright. The mixture should be thick like risotto. Season to taste with salt and a lot of fresh black pepper. Squeeze on the fresh lemon juice , and serve topped with Parmesan cheese.

SAUSAGE, KALE, AND WHITE BEAN PASTA TOSS

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to package directions. Just before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of the oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add the sausage and season it with 1 teaspoon of the salt, 1/2 teaspoon of the black pepper, and the red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the sausage from the pan and set aside.
• Add the onions, garlic, beans, sage, 1 tablespoon of the parsley, the remaining teaspoon of salt, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Saute until very fragrant, about 2 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the chicken stock, scraping to remove any brown bits from the bottom.
• Transfer half of the bean and stock mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Return the mixture to the pan and cook until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Return the sausage to the pan along with the cooked pasta, kale, and 1/4 cup of the parmesan. Toss, adding a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water at a time, until the kale is wilted and the sauce clings to the pasta. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper if necessary.
• Divide the pasta among plates and garnish with the remaining olive oil, parmesan, and parsley.

PORK TENDERLOIN WITH WHITE BEANS AND KALE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Heat a large high-sided cast-iron or oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat and add the vegetable oil. Pat the pork tenderloin dry and season with the smoked paprika, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. When the oil is shimmering, add the pork and sear on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer the pork to the prepared baking sheet and roast until it registers 145 to 150 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, 20 to 25 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, set the same skillet over medium heat, add a drizzle of oil if needed and add the peppers and onions. Add a splash of water to deglaze and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook until fragrant and slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Remove and discard the tough, fibrous ribs from the kale leaves, then roughly chop the kale leaves. Add the kale and use a wooden spoon to carefully fold the hot vegetables over the kale to help it begin to wilt. Continue to cook until the kale is bright green and wilted, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the white beans and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until heated through, about 2 minutes more.
• Slice the rested pork on the diagonal and serve with the white bean and kale mixture.

WHITE BEANS AND KALE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the kale and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 3 minutes. Stir in the beans with the liquid from the can, lemon zest, 2 cups water and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and continue to cook, stirring occasionally until the liquid has reduced and the kale is tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Transfer the kale and beans to a serving bowl. Scatter the parsley and chives over the top and serve with lemon wedges.
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