Cappuccino Of White Beans Recipes

CAPPUCCINO OF WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Cover the beans with cold water, add the onion, carrot and herbs. Bring to the boil and cook for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes until tender.
• Remove 3-4 tbsp of the nearly cooked beans and set aside for serving. Continue to cook the rest for another 10-20 minutes or so until very soft, topping up with more boiling water if necessary. Drain and discard the vegetables and herbs. Place the beans in a food processor and whizz to a purée until creamy. It may be easier to purée half at a time, ladling in some of the stock to slacken the mixture and get it going. Stop the machine after 2-3 minutes, scrape down with a spatula, correct the seasoning, add a bit more stock and buzz again. The longer you leave it puréeing, the smoother it will become; 4-5 minutes should do it. Return to the same pan. Stir in the stock and seasoning, bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes.
• Brush the mushrooms to remove any soil then slice down them for the best shape, but not too thinly or they will shrivel when cooking. Heat a non-stick pan until quite hot, add the oil, then the mushrooms, and sauté until they start to colour. Now add the 25g/1oz of butter and continue to sauté until just cooked. Keep the heat in the pan high, as you want to roast rather than boil them. Season and drain.
• Rub the soup through a fine sieve with the back of a ladle for a fine velvety texture. Return to the pan and stir in the cream. As the mixture almost comes to the boil, add the truffle oil, if using. (If you add the oil when the mixture is cold, it may split.)
• When ready to serve, divide the reserved beans (they don't need re-heating) and mushrooms between warmed soup cups. Add the knob of butter to the near-boiling soup then froth with a hand blender (do this for 4-5 minutes to get it really light) then slowly pour the soup into the cups from a ladle to three quarters full, wiping the ladle over the edge of the pan so the soup doesn't drip. Hold back the froth in the pan then scoop that on top of the cups to serve.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CAPPUCCINO

Steps:

• Pour milk into heavy medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to boil. Remove from heat. Add white chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Whisk in brandy and vanilla extract. Using tongs, remove vanilla bean. Return white chocolate mixture to low heat; whisk until frothy, about 1 minute.
• Pour hot coffee into mugs. Ladle white chocolate mixture over. Sprinkle with cocoa powder and serve.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CAPPUCCINO

Steps:

• Pour milk into heavy medium saucepan.
• Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean.
• Add bean and seeds.
• Bring to boil.
• Remove from heat.
• Add white chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth.
• Whisk in brandy and vanilla extract.
• Using tongs, remove vanilla bean.
• Return white chocolate mixture to low heat; whisk until frothy, about 1 minute.
• Pour hot coffee into mugs.
• Ladle white chocolate mixture over.
• sweeten if you wish.
• Sprinkle with cocoa powder and serve.

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.