Shells With White Beans Recipes

WHOLE GRAIN MEDIUM SHELLS WITH BEANS AND ESCAROLE

Steps:

• 1. Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery and cook until vegetables are slightly softened, 5 minutes. Add 1 cup water, season with salt and pepper, cover and cook until tender, 10 minutes.
• 2. Meanwhile, finely chop sage, thyme, and garlic together. Stir chopped herb mixture and beans into vegetables.
• 3. Cook pasta according to package directions. After 5 minutes, stir in escarole and continue to cook, until shells are "al dente," 1 to 2 minutes more. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups pasta water.
• 4. Add pasta and escarole to the vegetables, tossing with some pasta water until creamy and coated. Stir in 3/4 cup cheese, season with more salt and pepper to taste. Serve with grated cheese and a dollop of tomato pesto if desired.
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SHELLS WITH WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat.
• Add onion and celery to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Stir in tomatoes and beans, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes and dash of salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered for 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta following package directions. Drain, and return to pot. Add tomato and bean mixture. Top with cheese, if desired.

SHELL BEAN RAGOUT

Steps:

• In a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven, combine the shell beans, onion, crushed garlic clove, bouquet garni and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil. Add salt to taste, reduce heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Remove and discard onion and garlic clove.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil over medium heat in a medium skillet and add leeks and celery. Cook, stirring, until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes, and stir in minced garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute, and add tomatoes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until tomatoes have cooked down slightly, about 10 minutes.
• Stir leek and tomato mixture into beans, along with summer squash. Bring back to a simmer and cook 15 minutes, until beans are creamy-tender but intact and the vegetables are soft and fragrant. Taste and adjust seasonings. Remove bouquet garni.
• Ladle ragout into wide bowls. Top each serving with a generous sprinkling of slivered basil leaves and a spoonful of Parmesan.

CREAMY PASTA SHELLS WITH WHITE BEANS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until al dente; drain and set aside.
• In the same pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 6 minutes. Add the cream and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add the reserved pasta, the tomatoes and beans and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Toss with the 1/2 cup parmesan and chives, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Pass more parmesan at the table.