Cannellini Bean Niçoise Salad Recipes

NICOISE BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Make an ice-water bath.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add both kinds of beans, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the beans are just tender. Drain and place in the bowl of ice water for a few minutes.
• When the beans are cool, drain immediately and place them in a large bowl. Add the garlic, tomatoes, and vinaigrette and toss until mixed. Season with the salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut off the top 1/3 of the garlic heads crosswise to expose the cloves. Drizzle each head with 1 tablespoon of the oil and wrap in aluminum foil. Place the garlic on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for about 40 minutes, or until soft. Allow to cool, then squeeze garlic cloves out of their skins.
• Store the garlic in plastic wrap or covered with olive oil in a glass jar. The roasted garlic will keep for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
• Place the sun-dried tomatoes in a small bowl. Pour the boiling water over the dried tomatoes to soften, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the tomatoes, reserving the tomato water.
• In a blender or food processor, combine the tomatoes, basil, garlic, vinegar, and 6 tablespoons of the tomato water or plain water and pulse until smooth. With the motor on low, slowly add the oil and blend until the dressing is well blended. Season with the salt and pepper.

CANNELLINI BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss the beans, celery, red onion, red pepper, parsley and green onions. In a small bowl, combine the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until chilled.

NAVY BEAN NICOISE

Steps:

• In a small bowl whisk together lemon juice, mustard, shallot, parsley, basil, salt and pepper to taste; set aside.
• Put just-cooked potatoes in medium bowl, toss with 3 tablespoons dressing and salt and pepper to taste; set aside.
• Place large lettuce leaves side by side in a circle around a large serving platter so the leaf tops extend just beyond the rim.
• In a large bowl, mix spinach with 2 tablespoons dressing. Create a bed of spinach on platter, leaving a frilly-edged frame of lettuce leaves exposed.
• Put navy beans in empty bowl and use the back of a large spoon to smash some. Add celery, lemon zest, 3 to 4 tablespoons dressing, salt and pepper to taste, and mix, Mound the beans in the center the platter, on top of the spinach.
• Mound potatoes on one-quarter of the platter to the left of navy beans. Then arrange tomato wedges in adjacent quadrant.
• Put green beans, 2 tablespoons dressing, and salt and pepper taste in the bowl; mix and mound the dressed green beans in the third quadrant.
• Arrange the eggs and olives in remaining quadrant. Sprinkle entire salad with capers. Serve immediately.

CANNELLINI BEAN SALAD WITH ROASTED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut red pepper in half; remove seeds. Broil pepper cut side down 4 in. from the heat until skin is blistered and charred, about 8 minutes. Immediately place pepper in a small bowl; cover and let stand for 15-20 minutes. , Peel off and discard charred skin. Cut pepper into strips; place in a large bowl. Add the beans, onion and basil. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the vinegar, oil, salt and pepper; shake well. Pour over bean mixture; toss to coat.