Tangy Cranberry Beans Recipes

CRANBERRY BEAN PASTA FAGIOLI

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, red pepper flakes, rosemary and pancetta, if using, and cook 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and cook 2 more minutes; season with salt. Add the beans, 3 quarts water, the bay leaves and parmesan rind. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the beans are tender, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• Uncover the pot and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Add the kale and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 5 to 6 more minutes. (The soup should be thick and creamy; thin with water, if necessary.)
• Remove the bay leaves, parmesan rind and pancetta, if used. Add the grated parmesan, parsley, the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Top with more olive oil and parmesan.

CRANBERRY BAKED BEANS

Steps:

• Place beans in a Dutch oven or soup kettle; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour to 4 hours, or until softened. , Drain beans and discard liquid. Return beans to Dutch oven. Add cranberry juice; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour or until beans are almost tender. , Drain, reserving cranberry liquid. Place beans in a 2-1/2-qt. casserole or bean pot; add remaining ingredients and 1-1/2 cups of cranberry liquid. Cover and bake at 350° for 3 hours or until beans are tender and of desired consistency, stirring every 30 minutes. Add reserved cranberry liquid as needed.

INDIAN SPICED CRANBERRY BEANS

Steps:

• In a soup pot over medium heat, gently warm the beans and their broth.
• In a small, heavy skillet over medium heat, warm the oil. Add the onion, garlic and ginger and saute until soft and fragrant, about 10 minutes.
• Raise heat to medium-high, add the cardamom, cumin, fennel, corriander, chile, and tomatoes, and cook , stirring, for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the spice mixture to the beans, season to taste with with salt and pepper.
• Served garnished with chopped cilantro (optional).
• Note:.To cook beans you have 2 options: you can throw them in a crockpot (I usually cook mine this way but with at least double the amount of beans), cover with water by about 2 inches and cook on low all day. Or, soak beans over night in water to cover, rinse, add new water and boil on the stove for about two hours or until soft. Never add salt or acids (such as tomatoes) while cooking beans- it makes them very hard to cook. That includes most stocks! Add the flavors and salt at the end.

CRANBERRY BEANS WITH TOMATOES AND HERBS

Steps:

• Place olive oil in a 5-quart casserole with a tight-fitting lid. Cook, uncovered, at 100 percent power in a high-power oven for 2 minutes. Add onions and stir to coat with oil. Cook, uncovered, for 4 minutes.
• Drain beans and stir them in. Cook, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, sage and savory. Cook, covered, for 45 minutes, stirring twice.
• Remove from oven and uncover. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, covered, for 7 minutes to reheat.