Tuscan Beans Recipes

TUSCAN BEANS

Steps:

• Heat a pan on the stove on medium heat. Once hot, add a tablespoon of olive oil. Add onion and sage, and saute until just softened and translucent.
• Add cannelloni beans and half the can liquid, then add half a can of water. Add remaining olive oil, along with pepper. Mince garlic and add.
• Bring to a simmer and let it cook down for about 45 minutes until the sauce thickens.
• Before serving, fish out sage leaves. Add salt or pepper, as needed. Drizzle a bit of extra olive oil over beans just before serving.

TUSCAN BEANS

Steps:

• If using a terra-cotta pot for the first time, soak it in water to cover at least 6 hours, then drain.
• Put beans, water, sage, bay leaf, and whole head of garlic in bean pot. Cover and slowly bring to a simmer over low heat; this can take 2 3/4 hours in bean pot or 1 hour in saucepan.
• Simmer beans until tender and soft but not mushy, about 45 minutes in bean pot or 35 to 40 minutes in saucepan. Remove from heat and cool beans, covered, 15 minutes. Stir in sea salt.
• Drain almost all cooking liquid from beans (reserve for making soup if desired) and season beans with sea salt and pepper to taste.
• Dress beans with oil at the table.

TUSCAN WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Cook 2 smashed garlic cloves and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes in olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, 1 minute. Add 1 chopped plum tomato and 1 sprig rosemary and cook 2 minutes. Add 2 cans drained, rinsed cannellini beans and cook, partially smashing the beans with a spoon, 5 minutes. Remove the rosemary. Stir in 1/2 cup water and some chopped parsley; season with salt. Sprinkle with parmesan and broil until golden. Drizzle with olive oil.

TUSCAN CANNELLINI BEANS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Add pancetta; cook and stir until browned, about 3 minutes.
• Remove pancetta but leave grease in the pot. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Saute until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Pour in white wine and bring to a boil while scraping up any browned bits from the pot with a wooden spoon. Boil until reduced by half, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add in cannellini beans, chicken stock, Parmesan cheese, cream, rosemary, oregano, red pepper flakes, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring every so often to avoid burning, until the cheese and starch in the beans have thickened the liquid to a sauce-like consistency, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

TUSCAN BEANS

Steps:

• In a large pot add the beans, garlic, rosemary, sage leaves, salt, and 4 tablespoons olive oil. Fill up the pot with enough water to cover the beans. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for approximately 2 hours. Drain. Let cool and serve with a drizzle of olive oil.

TUSCAN BEANS IN SUMMERY TOMATO RAGù

Steps:

• Soak beans in water to cover by 2 inches overnight (8 hours) or quick-soak (see cooks' note, below), then drain.
• Cover beans with water by 2 inches in a 5-to 6-quart pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and briskly simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally and skimming foam, until beans are very tender, 40 to 50 minutes. Reserve 2 cups cooking water, then drain beans.
• Halve 1 cup tomatoes lengthwise and set aside. Pulse remaining tomatoes in a food processor until almost smooth.
• Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in middle.
• Cook onion, celery, and garlic in oil and 1 tablespoon butter with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a 12-inch heavy skillet, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add tomato purée, thyme, sugar, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and reserved 2 cups bean-cooking water and simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Whisk in remaining tablespoon butter, then stir in beans.
• Transfer to a 3-quart shallow baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with cheese, then scatter tomato halves over top. Bake, covered tightly with foil, until liquid is reduced and beans are saucy but not soupy, 25 to 30 minutes. Let stand, covered, 10 minutes before serving (beans will continue to absorb liquid).
• What to drink:
• Avignonesi Rosso di Toscana '05