An elegant, absolutely delicious side dish that’s even better
if you use chicken stock to cook the dried beans. This
will make converts of self-professed bean-haters.
Other beans you can use: any white beans at all; large
limas or gigantes are gorgeous.
2 tablespoons butter or extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup chopped shallot or scallion
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried
thyme
2 cups peeled, seeded, and diced tomato (drained
canned is fine)
4 cups cooked or canned navy or pea beans,
drained
1/2 cup chicken, beef, or vegetable stock
, juice from canned
tomatoes, or water
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
How to make
Beans and Tomatoes
Put the butter or oil in a large, deep skillet over
medium heat. When the butter is melted or the oil is hot,
add the shallot and cook, stirring, until it softens, 3 to 5
minutes. Add the thyme and cook for about 30 seconds.
Add the tomato and cook, stirring occasionally,
until it breaks up and becomes “saucy,” about 10 minutes.
Then add the beans and stock and turn the heat up
to medium-high. Cook, stirring, until the mixture is hot
and creamy, about 5 minutes. Season and serve, topped
with the Parmesan if you like.
Bean and Tomato Casserole.
More substantial and a
good light main course; use any kind of cooked beans
or a mixture: Slice 4 tomatoes. Add 2 large chopped
onions; 11/2 cups grated cheddar, Jack, or Asiago
cheese; and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano or
marjoram leaves. Heat the oven to 400 F; grease the
bottom and sides of a 2-quart baking dish or casserole.
Put about half the beans in the bottom (sprinkle
with salt and pepper if they need it), followed by a
layer of tomatoes, then the onions, and a sprinkling of
the herbs and cheese. Repeat. Bake until the casserole
is hot and the cheese is bubbly, 20 to 30 minutes
depending on the size of the baking dish.