With Sage And Beans Food

WITH SAGE AND BEANS

Steps:

• Cook coarse-chopped slab bacon in olive oil until done; add chopped garlic, sage, cooked white beans and a splash of stock. Cover and simmer until the beans are nearly falling apart. Garnish: Fried breadcrumbs.

WHITE BEANS WITH PANCETTA AND SAGE

Steps:

• Put the dried beans in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Soak the beans overnight in the refrigerator.
• Drain the soaked beans, place them in a large pot and cover with fresh cold water. Put the beans over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Toss in the bay leaves and garlic. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 11/2 hours until tender. Drain the cooked beans and spread them out on a sheet pan to cool slightly.
• Put about 1/2 cup of flour in a shallow platter and season it with salt and pepper; mix with a fork to distribute evenly. Toss the beans in the seasoned flour to coat completely.
• Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and coat with the oil. When the oil is hot, add the pancetta, fry for a couple of minutes to crisp it up. Toss in the sage leaves and fry for about 1 minute. Remove the pancetta and sage to some paper towels; now you have a flavor base. Shake off excess flour from the beans and put them in the pan in a single layer. Fry the beans for a good 10 minutes to form a golden crust on the outside of the beans, tossing to cook both sides.
• Return the pancetta and fried sage to the pan, stir everything together, 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.

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!

BAKED WHITE BEANS AND SAUSAGE WITH SAGE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, prick the sausages all over with a fork. Add the garlic, drizzle with the olive oil and toss to coat. Bake until the sausages start to brown on top, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Put on your oven mitts, take the roasting pan out of the oven and set it on a heatproof surface. Using tongs, carefully turn the sausages over. (The sausages will brown on the other side when they go back into the oven.)
• Tear the sage leaves into little pieces and add them to the sausages along with the drained beans and apple juice. Give the bean mixture a stir.
• Wearing your oven mitts, put the roasting pan back in the oven and bake until the bean mixture is warmed, about 20 minutes.
• Put on your oven mitts one last time to remove the roasting pan from the oven. To serve, carefully stir everything together using a wooden spoon, and add a little salt and pepper to taste.

ROASTED BUTTER BEANS WITH SAGE AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Place beans, oil, almonds, sage, salt and pepper in a baking dish and toss to combine.
• Top with butter and roast for 15 minutes until the beans are tender and golden.
• Place roasted beans in a bowl and pour the butter mixture over to serve.

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.

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.