White Bean, Arugula and Tuna Salad

For the dressing, in a medium sized bowl whisk together the following:

2 TBS extra virgin olive oil

1 TBS white wine vinegar

A pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

-Drain a rinse 1 can of cannellini beans.

-Chop up ½ an onion.

-To the bowl of dressing, add the beans and the onion

-Zest 1 tsp lemon zest and add that, along with ½ cup halved Sungold cherry tomatoes or chopped tomatoes.

-Toss gently to combine then add 2 6-ounce cans of drained and oil packed tuna (if you are using water packed tuna, add a little extra olive oil).

-Serve at room temperature or chill for 30 minutes.

-Serve on a bed of torn arugula.

White Bean and Endive Soup

You could also make this soup with rainbow chard or radicchio.

-Trim the end off of 1 endive and separate the leaves and wash them well in cool water, especially the center of the leaves where soil collects.  

-Stack the leaves and cut them crosswise into 1-inch strips.

-Dice up 4 carrots.  

-Chop up 5 cloves of garlic and 3 small zucchini.    

-Heat 1 TBS olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-low heat.

-Add the carrots and cook for 5 minutes.  

-Add the zucchini and the garlic and cook for another 3 minutes.

-Add the endive and cook for another 3-5 minutes more.  

-Then add the following:

4 cups of broth

Two 15-ounce cans of cannellini or Great Northern beans

One 14-16 ounce can of diced tomatoes  

-Cover and simmer 20 minutes until endive is soft, season with salt and pepper. 

-Serve topped with Parmesan cheese.

Tuscan Style Cranberry Beans with Fresh Herbs and Parmesan

-Soak 1 pound of Cranberry beans for 3-12 hours in 10 cups of water.

-Finely chop the following:

1 onion

2 carrots

2 stalks of celery

-Add 2 TBS extra virgin olive oil and the chopped vegetables to a large pot with a tightly fitting lid.

-Saute for 5 minutes, then rinse and drain beans and add them to the pot.

-Add 1 tsp sea salt and 8 cups of water, cover and bring to a boil.

-Preheat your oven to 325 then put the beans in the oven and cook for 1.5 hours.

-Finely chop and add the following:

¼ cup parsley

3 cloves of garlic

2 TBS fresh thyme

-Mix into the beans, then cook for 15 more minutes until beans are soft.

-Finish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.