Friday, June 13, 2008

SUPER CONTORNI!


I love beans.  Beans of all kinds: long, broad, brown, green, even lentils, you name it.  This recipe (a derivative off something my MIL makes) works for any type of bean your gastronomic heart desires:
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 red onion (preferably from Tropea, but Maui's work as well)
  • 3 springs of fresh rosemary
  • 500 grams of your favorite beans, rinsed* (cannellini, borloti and lentils are my faves)
  • 2 tablespoons of water
  • 2 tablespoons of tomato paste**
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • chili pepper flakes
Start by mincing the garlic, onion and rosemary together like this:



Then add to a pan with some olive oil, salt and chili peppers to taste, and saute for about 2 minutes until the onions appear translucent.  


Add the beans and a tablespoon or so of water till the beans seem covered.  Let smmer a few moments and then add the tomato paste.  Stir until the beans are well coated.  Let simmer another minute or so.  

Now you have a hearty, delicious side dish for your lunch or dinner.


BUON APPETITO!

*If you really want to go through the tiring exercise of soaking fresh beans overnight, be my guest, but good quality canned beans work just as well and don't take some much time.  For those of you living in Italy, IPERCOOP has a great & tasty selection of their name brand beans.)
**You can use real tomatoes mashed up, but the beans tend to be more runny.  The paste keeps the consistency and just the right amount of "pomodoro" flavor.

7 comments:

Jill said...

I have been wondering about what I can do with the can of cannellini in my cabinet! Thanks...

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Another great recipe for me to try, we love beans especially cannellini and borloti!!

Anonymous said...

I read your blog a long time ago and just now picked it up again. (not sure why I stopped). Great blog.

Diane @ Baur B&B mentioned the minced rosemary, garlic, & onions in her blog as you used it in a recipe when she & Micha visited you. It sounds yummy and I have a lot of rosemary in the garden that I can use.

Funny how when reading all different blogs you find that they are intertwined with friendships or acquaintances. It's a small world.

'A Tuscan view.....from Umbria' said...

Yum! Loving those beans. I know what I'm cooking for lunch tomorrow!

Diana Strinati Baur said...

Ice tea for me-- That's what I thought!! This recipe is totally and completely and entirely MEGAN!!! I cannot make this kind of chopped herb with out thinking about you Meg, you are always there next to me (ok, usually laughing hysterically)....

Valerie said...

Is that a Calphalon pan I see in those photos? In Italy?? ;)

Megan in Liguria said...

XXXXXX to Di! My laughing and crying partner alla Italia! (Oh and that cute little Max!)

I think my favorite is the lentils, but the other night I did Borlotti and Lui told my they were "dyno-mite"!

Valerie - You are correct! My mom was so sweet to bring over my Calphalon stash.

Anne in Ox & Ice Tea for me - thanks for reading...

And Jilli, I am still counting the days for Sicily and dinner with you & A! :)

Amanda - how were the beans???