White Bean Puree With Thyme Recipes

BRUSCHETTA WITH WHITE BEAN PUREE

Steps:

• Puree the beans in a food processor until smooth, adding the reserved liquid, as necessary, for a finished consistency that is spread-able but not too thin. Add olive paste and thyme. Puree again, and while pureeing, add extra-virgin olive oil and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Reserve, and garnish with sprigs of thyme, if desired.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Cut a crispy Italian bread into thick slices. Toast or grill until light brown and crispy. Then swipe once with a clove of fresh garlic, drizzle with olive oil. Spread with the White Bean Puree. Finish with a pinch of gray salt and freshly ground black pepper, if desired.

WHITE BEAN PURéE

Steps:

• 1. Soak the beans overnight. Or place beans in a pot, cover with cold water and bring to a boil over high heat; remove from heat and set aside, covered, for 1 hour.
• 2. Drain the beans; transfer to a 2-quart pot with the diced onion, celery, carrot, smashed garlic, bay leaf, thyme sprigs, 5 cups of broth, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat; simmer until beans are very tender, about 90 minutes. If the mixture becomes dry, add some of the remaining broth.
• 3. Drain the beans; discard the thyme sprigs and bay leaf. Warm the beans in a pan over medium heat. Add the cream, thyme leaves, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Let simmer. Cook until the cream is reduced and is almost dry on the beans, about 4 to 5 minutes.
• 4. Puree the beans in a food processor, adding a few drops of oil. Adjust seasonings.

WHITE BEAN PUREE WITH THYME

Steps:

• Soak the beans in water to cover overnight. Drain and bring to boil in fresh water to cover with the garlic and onion. Cook for about 45 minutes or until tender.
• Place the beans in a food processor with the chicken stock and puree until smooth (this is best done in two batches). Season to taste with salt and pepper. The recipe may be prepared ahead to this point and heated up when needed. To serve, place the beans in a bowl and sprinkle with thyme leaves. A little oil may be swirled on the top.

HERB-CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB WITH WHITE BEAN PURéE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the breadcrumbs, herbs, zest and Parmesan into a food processor with 1 tbsp of the oil and some seasoning. Blitz until everything is finely chopped.
• Heat the remaining oil in an ovenproof frying pan. Season the lamb, then brown it well on all sides and turn off the heat. Turn the racks so that they are fat-side up, and brush liberally with the mustard (Step 1, above). Pack over the herb crust (Step 2), drizzle with a bit more oil, and roast for 25 mins until the crust is golden and the lamb is cooked - this will produce lamb that is pink in the middle but cooked all the way through. If you like your lamb rarer, roast for only 20 mins; if you like it more done, give it 5 mins more. Put the lamb on a board to rest.
• While the lamb is cooking, blitz the beans with the garlic, anchovies, rosemary, lemon juice, some seasoning and 7 tbsp olive oil (or enough to make it a smooth purée. Tip into a saucepan to gently heat.
• Wilt the spinach in the remaining olive oil in another frying pan. Once the lamb has rested, carefully carve it into chops (Step 3), trying to keep the crust intact. Divide the warm bean purée between 4 plates, add a small mound of spinach, then arrange 3 lamb chops on top of each portion. Sprinkle with stray crumbs and drizzle with a little olive oil.

WHITE BEAN PUREE

Steps:

• A day ahead, rinse the beans and pick them over, discarding any broken or discolored ones. Cover them with water and soak them overnight at room temperature.
• On the day of serving, drain and change the water. Bring the beans to a boil, drain them and cover them with fresh water. Add the remaining ingredients, except the chicken stock, olive oil and thyme and simmer the beans until tender (one to two hours), stirring occasionally. Add more water if the beans start to get dry.
• Place half the beans in a food processor. Add half a cup of the chicken stock. Puree the beans and correct seasoning. Repeat with the remaining beans and chicken stock.
• Pour the puree into a serving dish and swirl the oil in on top. Garnish with a few leaves of fresh thyme.

APRICOT CHICKEN WITH WHITE BEAN PUREE AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Pat the chicken breasts dry. Using a sharp knife, slice each chicken breast half into two horizontally so you have 4 cutlets. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 3 tablespoons oil. When the oil starts to shimmer, add the chicken, 1 garlic clove and 1 sprig thyme and cook until the chicken is golden and opaque, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer everything to a plate, tent with foil to keep warm and set aside.
• Return the skillet to medium heat and add the apricot preserves, broth, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon mustard, 1 garlic clove and the remaining fresh thyme sprig. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk together the mixture and cook until the sauce is smooth. Reduce the heat to low as you prepare the white bean puree and arugula.
• Make your bean puree. Put the cannellini beans, remaining garlic clove, lemon juice and lemon zest in a food processor. Add in 1/4 cup olive oil and pulse until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper. If the bean puree isn't as creamy as you want, add 1 tablespoon water and pulse again. Set aside.
• Chop the pistachios and set aside.
• Whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar and remaining 1 teaspoon mustard in a medium bowl. Whisk in the remaining 1/4 cup oil. Add the arugula and toss until coated with the dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
• Return the chicken and any juices on the plate to the skillet with the sauce. Increase the heat to medium. Cook until the chicken is cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes more, flipping the cutlets halfway through.
• To serve, dollop and swoop some bean puree into a shallow bowl or deep plate. Slice a chicken cutlet and place it on top of the bean puree and top with the sauce. Place some arugula next to the chicken. Sprinkle everything with the chopped pistachios and drizzle with olive oil. Repeat with the remaining puree, chicken, arugula and pistachios. Enjoy!

WHITE BEAN PURéE

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add bacon; sauté until brown, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add carrot, onion and rosemary; sauté until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to high. Add cannellini and broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cook until almost all liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Puree mixture in processor. Return to saucepan. Season with salt and pepper.