Italian Style Stuffed Tomatoes With White Beans Recipes

WHITE BEANS WITH ROASTED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cook beans:
• Cover beans with cold water by 2 inches in a bowl and soak at room temperature at least 8 hours or quick-soak (see cooks' note, below). Drain well in a colander.
• Blanch onions in boiling salted water , 1 minute, then drain and peel.
• Cover beans with cold water by about 1 inch in a 5- to 6-quart pot and bring to a boil. Add onions and simmer, partially covered, skimming froth as necessary, until beans and onions are tender, 40 minutes to 1 hour. Stir in salt and let stand (in cooking liquid), uncovered.
• Roast tomatoes while beans are cooking:
• Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 500°F.
• Toss tomato halves and cherry tomatoes with salt, sugar, and oil in a shallow 3-quart baking dish, then arrange tomato halves cut sides up. Roast tomatoes, uncovered, until large tomatoes are very tender with brown patches and cherry tomatoes are falling apart, 35 to 50 minutes.
• Assemble dish:
• Transfer warm beans and onions with a slotted spoon to a deep large platter. Arrange tomatoes decoratively on top of beans and pour tomato juices on top. Sprinkle with basil leaves.

ITALIAN-STYLE STUFFED TOMATOES WITH WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Cut off top 1/4 of tomatoes; with a spoon, scoop out most of pulp and seeds; discard.
• Brush outsides of tomato shells with 1 tablespoon of the oil.
• Place tomatoes in a microwavable dish.
• In a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil.
• Add onion; cook and stir until it starts to brown, about 4 minutes.
• Add garlic and red pepper; cook and stir 30 seconds longer.
• Stir in beans; bring to a boil; stir in 3 tablespoons of the cheese.
• Fill each tomato shell with the bean mixture, dividing evenly.
• In a cup, combine bread crumbs and remaining 1 tablespoon oil.
• Sprinkle tomatoes with crumbs.
• Lightly cover and microwave on high until tomatoes are tender, but retain their shape, about 4 minutes.
• Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon cheese.
• Serve alone as appetizers or on the side with grilled steak, chicken, or fish.

TUSCAN WHITE BEANS IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Place beans in a large pot. Cover with water and stir in baking soda. Soak for 8 to 12 hours.
• Rinse beans and return to the pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until beans are tender yet firm to the bite, about 25 minutes. Drain beans, reserving the water, and set aside.
• Heat the same pot over medium heat and add olive oil. Saute garlic and sage in the hot oil until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add drained beans. Stir and let the beans absorb the aroma of the garlic and sage. Add tomato sauce. Gently stir and simmer until the beans are soft but not mushy, 10 to 15 minutes. Use reserved cooking water to keep the sauce from burning, but the sauce should be thick. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.

PENNE WITH PAN-ROASTED TOMATOES AND WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander and return it to the pot.
• Meanwhile, cut the tomatoes in half, scrape the seeds out of each half with a small tool or your finger, and cut into 1-inch pieces. Peel the garlic and leave the cloves whole. Coarsely chop the basil leaves.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the tomatoes and garlic, cover, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the garlic is soft. Remove the garlic from the pan and set aside. Put the beans in a strainer and rinse under running water. Drain the beans and add them to the pan, then remove the pan from the heat. Smash the garlic with a fork and add it to the drained pasta. Add the tomatoes and basil, stir well, and season with salt and pepper. Pour the pasta into a large serving bowl, sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.
• Basil is native to India, though it's since become integral to the cooking of countries as far a field as Italy and Thailand. When it migrated to Italy, it became a symbol of love, with young women wearing sprigs in their hair to encourage their suitors.

ITALIAN STUFFED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cut a thin slice off the top of each tomato. Leaving a 1/2-in. thick shell, scoop out the pulp; chop pulp and set aside. Invert the tomatoes onto paper towels to drain. , Meanwhile, cook sausage, onion and garlic in a skillet until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Add tomato pulp, zucchini, basil, oregano, vinegar, salt and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in rice, provolone, 3 tablespoons Parmesan and parsley; spoon about 2/3 cup into each tomato. , Place in an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan on top. Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes more or until the tomatoes are heated through.