Pasta With White Beans And Fresh Herbs Recipes

PENNE WITH TOMATOES & WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Add tomatoes and beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 5-7 minutes to allow flavors to blend., Add spinach, olives, salt and pepper; cook and stir over medium heat until spinach is wilted. Drain pasta; top with tomato mixture and cheese.

TUSCAN WHITE BEAN PASTA

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with water and place over high heat to bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook according to the package directions (boil for 7-10 minutes). Drain the pasta in a colander.
• While you're waiting for the water to boil, mince the garlic. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and sauté for about a minute, or until it has softened and become very fragrant.
• Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper and basil. Sauté the tomatoes until the skins burst and the tomatoes begin to release their juices. It's important to not have the heat under the skillet too high here or the garlic may burn before the tomatoes break down. You want the garlic to brown and caramelize a bit, but not burn.
• Once the tomatoes begin to break down, add the spinach and stir it into the tomatoes until it is about half way wilted.
• Rinse and drain the can of cannellini beans. Add the beans to the skillet and stir until they are heated through. The tomato juices will have created a thick sauce-like mixture on the bottom of the skillet at this point. Taste the mixture and add a bit more salt if needed. It should be slightly on the salty side in order to properly flavor the pasta.
• Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet. Toss until the pasta is coated in the sticky sauce and everything is combined. Top with shredded parmesan, plus add a bit of Parmesan to the top of each bowl.

PASTA WITH CREAMY WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season well with salt. Add the pasta and cook for 3 minutes less than indicated in the package directions, about 7 minutes. Drain well reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the oil, carrot and onion to the skillet. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until fragrant and beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the pepper flakes and thyme and cook another minute. Stir in the drained beans and chicken broth. Reduce the heat to medium to maintain a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Use the back of a spoon to gently mash some of the beans. Set aside.
• Add the cooked pasta to the sauce. Sprinkle the grated cheese over the pasta and toss to coat well. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and add the 1/2 cup pasta water as needed to maintain a creamy, broth-like sauce. Sprinkle in the spinach and cook until wilted.

PASTA, BEANS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Saute; a couple of cloves of chopped garlic in olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat.
• Add 2 cups of chopped fresh or canned tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes, or until saucy; add 1.5 cups canned white beans (or about 1 cup of cooked beans) and heat until bubbly.
• Add a little more minced garlic, then a pound of cooked penne pasta.
• Add fresh basil and a bit more oil and serve.

WHITE BEANS, SPINACH AND TOMATOES OVER LINGUINE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet.
• In a large pot, start boiling water for linguine and get linguine cooked while you continue.
• Add garlic to the skillet, and saute for a minute or so.
• Add the tomatoes and beans and bring to a simmer.
• Add the spinach, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• Spoon tomato/beans/spinach mixture over linguine and sprinkle with cheese.
• This makes 6 servings of 1 cup of pasta, 1 cup of sauce and 1 tablespoon of cheese.

PESTO PASTA WITH WHITE BEANS AND HALLOUMI

Steps:

• Prepare the pasta: Add the oil to a large, lidded sauté pan, and then place it over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the garlic and chile, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often, until the garlic is nicely golden. Stir in the thyme, beans, pasta, stock, 2 teaspoons salt and plenty of pepper, and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat to medium, cover, and cook for 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, with the lid off, for about 5 to 10 minutes. This will help it absorb more of the liquid.
• As the pasta cooks, make the pesto: To a food processor, add the nuts, garlic, arugula (rocket), parsley, half the oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper. Pulse a few times, scraping down the sides and pulsing again until you have a coarse paste. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the remaining olive oil, adding a touch extra if needed to loosen the pesto.
• When ready to serve, stir the lemon juice and half the pesto into the pasta (discard the chile, if you wish) and transfer to a large serving bowl or platter with a lip. Sprinkle over about half the halloumi, and serve with the extra halloumi and pesto to eat alongside.

BRUSCHETTA WITH WHITE BEANS, TOMATOES, AND FRESH HERBS

Steps:

• For the topping, combine all of the topping ingredients in a small bowl, with salt and pepper to taste.
• Mix very well and refrigerate for at least 2 hours for the tastes to blend together.
• For the bruschetta, toast or broil the bread slices so that both sides are golden brown.
• Cut the garlic in half and rub generously over one side of each slice.
• Brush the olive oil over each side as well.
• To serve, top the bruschetta with the bean and herb mixture while the bread is still hot, if possible.

PASTA WITH WHITE BEANS AND FRESH HERBS

Steps:

• 1. Drain tomatoes, reserving 1/4 cup liquid.
• 2. Saute onion and next 5 ingredients in hot oil in a large skillet until onion is tender.
• 3. Add tomatoes, reserved liquid, salt, pepper, and sugar.
• 4. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 10 min.
• 5. Stir in beans; recover and simmer another 10 min.
• 6. Toss cooked macaroni with butter:; top with bean mixture and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
• 7. Serve immediately with crusty French bread. Garnish as desired, I use fresh herbs.