White Bean Ragout With Toast Recipes

WHITE BEAN RAGOUT WITH TOAST

Steps:

• Pulse onions in a food processor until finely chopped but not puréed (you should have about 2 cups). Transfer to a medium bowl. Pulse bell pepper in processor until finely chopped but not puréed (you should have about 1 cup); add to bowl and mix well.
• Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add onion mixture (it may splatter) and season with salt and pepper. Simmer, stirring often, until vegetables are completely softened, about 30 minutes. Add finely grated garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until tomato paste begins to turn deep red, about 3 minutes. Measure 1/2 cup soffritto and set aside; reserve skillet. Transfer remaining soffritto to a container and let cool completely, uncovered. Cover and store in refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F. Rub bread slices with cut sides of remaining garlic clove. Place bread on a baking sheet and sprinkle 1 tablespoon Parmesan over each slice. Toast until cheese begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Heat reserved 1/2 cup soffritto and beans in same skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring often, until heated through, about 1 minute. Stir in 3 cups broth; bring to a boil. Simmer, scraping up browned bits, until liquid is slightly thickened, 3-4 minutes. Add tomatoes and remaining 1 cup broth; simmer until tomatoes are tender, 3-4 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper.
• Divide bread among bowls. Top with some bean mixture and broth. Garnish with remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan and parsley. Drizzle with oil, if desired.

TUSCAN WHITE BEAN RAGOUT

Steps:

• Strain the cooking liquid from the beans and reserve(you should have about 2 cups of liquid-add water if necessary to reach this amount). Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until it turns white and fragrant, only aobut 30 seconds. Stir in the onions, rosemary, and chili. Cook gently until the onions are very soft, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the beans and enough bean cooking liquid to make the mixture brothy; simmer 5 minutes.
• Stir in the escarole or spinach; simmer until it is all wilted. Add the tomatoes, butter, parsley, and cheese if using. Remove from the heat, and stir until the butter is melted in, adding additional bean liquid as necessary to keep it brothy. Season well with salt and pepper.
• Serve warm, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil.
• Note:.
• This stew can be prepared just up to adding wscarole. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. The flavors will marry and the dish will be even better.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH WHITE BEAN AND MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 400°F In skillet over medium heat, heat 1/4 cup of oil. Season the chicken well, on both sides, w/ salt n' pepper and place in pan skin down. Brown evenly and turn over and sear flesh side. Place skillet in oven and cook chicken until done (about 12 to 14 minutes). Set aside and keep warm.
• For White Bean Ragout:
• Strain water from presoaked beans. In a medium pot, add beans, crushed garlic, 1 sprig of rosemary, 1 sprig of thyme, bay leaf and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook until beans are almost tender, about 20 minutes. Add the onion, carrots and mushrooms and cook until veggies are tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. When veggies and beans are tender, remove from heat. Strain off cooking liquid and reserve it.
• To finish, take 4 cups of the liquid and place in small pot, whisk in 2 Tbsp of butter and season with salt n' pepper. Finely chop remaining 2 sprigs of rosemary and 2 sprigs of thyme, and add the chopped herbs to cooking liquid.
• In 4 large bowls add 1/2 cup of cooking liquid in each bowl. Place a small amount of the bean and mushroom mixture in the center of the bowl. Finally, place the chicken breast atop the white bean mixture.