Beans With Small Shell Pasta Recipes

PASTA WITH SHELL BEANS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Combine the beans, onion, water, the crushed garlic cloves, bouquet garni and salt to taste in a heavy saucepan or soup pot, and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer 45 minutes, or until the beans are tender. Taste and adjust salt. Remove and discard the onion, the bouquet garni and the garlic cloves. Drain though a colander set over a bowl.
• While the beans are cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil and drop in the tomatoes. Blanch for 30 seconds, then transfer to a bowl of cold water. Drain, core and peel. Cut the tomatoes in half. Place a strainer over a bowl, and squeeze the seeds out of the tomatoes into the strainer. Press the seed pods against the strainer to extract as much juice as you can, and then discard the seeds. Chop the tomatoes.
• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat, and add the minced garlic. Cook, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds, and add the tomatoes, sugar, the basil sprig and salt to taste. Cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down to a thick sauce and smell fragrant, about 15 to 20 minutes. Taste and adjust salt. Stir in 1/2 cup of the bean broth and mix together. Stir in the beans. Keep warm while you cook the pasta.
• Bring the water back to a boil, salt generously and add the pasta. Cook al dente, until firm to the bite, following the timing instructions on the package. (Check the pasta a minute or two before the end of the suggested cooking time.) Drain the pasta and toss with the beans, tomatoes, and slivered basil. Serve with Parmesan on the side.

CREAMY BUTTER BEAN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add shells and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 7 to 9 minutes. Drain, reserving a cup of cooking water.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add leek and cook until soft, 3 to 5 minutes; do not brown. Add broccoli and 1/4 cup vegetable broth. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until tender, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine butter beans, remaining vegetable broth, remaining olive oil, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a blender. Process until sauce is smooth.
• Add cooked pasta and sauce to the skillet with the broccoli; toss to coat. Add reserved cooking water, a few tablespoons at a time, if the sauce appears too dry. Evenly divide among 4 bowls and top with nuts.

BEANS WITH SMALL SHELL PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and oil. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add bell pepper and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and hot pepper flakes. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes.
• Stir in beans, basil, and parsley. Cook until beans are heated through, about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cooked pasta and heat through.
• Spoon into serving bowls and top each with Asiago cheese.

PASTA N' BEANS

Steps:

• Boil the pasta shells according to package directions.
• Add salt to the pasta water.
• Heat olive oil in a pot and add minced garlic.
• Add cannelloni beans AND the liquid from the cans. I like to mash one of the cans of beans up just a bit, to help thicken the sauce.
• Add tomato sauce.
• Mix well and simmer until pasta is done boiling.
• The longer you let the sauce simmer, the more the flavors will meld. Drain pasta. Serve the pasta with the sauce over it. Enjoy!
• Note: this is great with garlic bread!