Truffled White Beans Recipes

MASHED WHITE BEANS WITH TRUFFLE OIL

Steps:

• Sort the beans to make sure they are free of stones or other debris. Rinse, then cover with cold water, refrigerate, and soak overnight.
• The next day, drain the beans, place them in large pot, and cover with the stock. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer the beans for 2 hours, or until they are soft, tender and yield to pressure when squeezed between your finger tips.
• Add the salt only in the final 15 minutes of cooking since the addition of salt earlier in the cooking process will result in tough beans.
• Pour the beans in to the bowl of a food processor. Begin to pulse the beans along with any of the stock that may have remained from cooking. Add all the remaining ingredients except the truffle oil and pulse together with the warm bean puree. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and add freshly ground pepper if needed. Return the bean puree to a pot set over low heat or a double boiler to keep warm. Serve each portion of puree with a drizzle of truffle oil.

TRUFFLED WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Note: if you're buying metric, you want the 540 mL can of beans; you're aiming for about 2 cups of beans.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, cook diced bacon until crisp (it will take about 10 minutes or so).
• With a slotted spoon, remove bacon to drain on paper towels, but leave bacon fat in pan; raise heat to medium high.
• Add shallots and saute for one minute.
• Now add beans, thyme and lemon juice; stir.
• Cook until beans are warmed through, anywhere from two to four minutes.
• Return bacon to pan and season with salt and pepper.
• Stir in olive oil and truffle oil and remove from heat.
• Arrange spinach evenly over four plates and spoon warm bean mixture on top.

WHITE-BEAN PUREE WITH WHITE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Cover the beans with water, and soak overnight. Or use the quick- soaking method: Cover the beans with water, bring to a boil, and boil 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, and set aside for 1 hour.
• Drain the beans and discard the soaking water. Place the beans, onion, sage, garlic and oil in soup kettle. Add fresh water to cover. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and cook, covered, at a bare simmer until the beans are very soft, 40 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the age of the beans. Keep a teakettle of water simmering, and as the beans absorb the liquid, add more water, little by little. The beans should always be covered by liquid but never swimming in it.
• If fresh sage is used, remove the sprigs and discard. Place the beans and liquid in a food processor, and process until very smooth. If using fresh white truffle, scrape half into the puree, and continue processing until well blended. Serve the puree immediately, with the remaining truffle shaved over the surface. If using truffle paste, puree the entire amount with the beans just before serving.

BRANDADE OF WHITE BEANS WITH ARTICHOKES AND TRUFFLE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place the beans and the garlic in a saucepan and cover with water. Place over medium heat and simmer until beans are tender, about 40 minutes, adding more water if necessary to keep the beans covered. Drain and place the beans in a food processor. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper and process until smooth.
• Place the cream in a bowl and whip with a whisk until the cream holds soft peaks. Fold the cream into the bean puree. Adjust seasoning if needed and refrigerate until cold and firm.
• Place the vinegar in a mixing bowl and whisk in the olive oil and truffle oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cut 4 of the artichoke hearts into wedges.
• To serve, place 1 whole artichoke heart in the center of each of 4 plates. Spoon the bean puree into the center of the artichoke hearts. Arrange the artichoke wedges around the plates. Season with salt and pepper. Stir the chopped truffle, if using, into the vinaigrette and spoon it over the dish. Garnish with the mache and sprinkle with chives. Serve cold.

WHITE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Place beans in heavy large pot. Add enough water to cover beans by 2 inches. Soak overnight. Drain beans.
• Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, leek, tomato, carrots, celery, garlic and bacon and sauté until vegetables are tender, about 6 minutes. Add beans, 10 1/2 cups chicken stock, chopped thyme and rosemary. Bring soup to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until beans are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
• Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Return soup to pot. Add 1/2 cup whipping cream. Add more chicken stock by 1/4 cupfuls to thin soup, if desired. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into 8 bowls. Lightly drizzle top of each with white truffle oil, if desired.
• *White truffle oil is available at Italian markets, specialty foods stores and some supermarkets nationwide.