Naked Beans With Olive Oil Recipes

TUSCAN WHITE BEANS WITH OLIVE 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 a large pot, and cover with the stock. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer the beans for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until they are tender. Add 1 teaspoon of salt in the final 15 minutes of cooking. The addition of salt earlier in the cooking process will result in tough beans.
• Remove the beans with a slotted spoon and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add all the remaining seasoning and other ingredients to the warm beans in the bowl and toss together. Adjust the salt and add freshly ground pepper to taste. Serve warm or chilled.

OLIVE OIL REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• The night before cooking, remove any debris from beans. Rinse them, then place them in a 4-quart Dutch oven or pot of similar size. Add 6 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt and the baking soda. Cover and set aside in a cool place for 8 to 12 hours.
• To cook, add bay leaves, garlic and chile to the beans and bring the pot, uncovered, to a boil. Taste the cooking water and adjust seasoning as needed; it should taste pleasantly salty. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, partly cover with a lid and cook until beans are completely tender and just beginning to fall apart. Depending on the variety and age of your beans, this can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. Throughout the cooking time, monitor the pot to ensure the beans are always submerged, adding more water as needed. When you suspect the beans might be done, taste five of them. If they are not all creamy through to the center, keep on simmering. No one likes an underdone bean!
• To fry the beans, remove the bay leaves and chile from the bean pot. Discard the bay leaves, and mince the chile. Set a large cast-iron or similar frying pan over high heat, and add about half the oil. Add the minced chile. Use a slotted spoon or sieve to add beans and garlic - but not their cooking liquid - to the pan. Reduce heat to medium, and, with a potato masher or wooden spoon, stir and mash the beans into a silky paste, constantly stirring and scraping to keep them from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Add about 1/4 cup bean cooking liquid to loosen the mixture, then gradually add remaining oil. If the bean paste is too thick, continue adding cooking liquid as needed, being mindful that it is seasoned with salt. When the mixture is rich and velvety, taste, and adjust seasoning with salt.
• To serve, lightly rub warm toasts with raw garlic, then slather with a generous amount of bean paste. Garnish with chile paste and, if desired, torn basil and a heap of grated Parmesan. Serve immediately.

WHITE BEANS WITH SAGE AND OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• Place beans in large saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover by 3 inches and let soak overnight.
• Drain beans and return to pan. Add 6 cups cold water, 1/4 cup oil, chopped sage and garlic. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover partially; simmer until beans are just tender, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool. Cover and keep chilled. Rewarm before continuing.)
• Using slotted spoon, transfer beans to bowl. Top with more oil.