Tomato and Fresh Shell Bean Salad

This wonderful salad introduced me to the idea of cooking with fresh shell beans, and boy am I glad it did!  

 

Many shell beans are the "just-picked" versions of beans that we normally use in dried form.  But compared to dried beans, fresh beans have a wonderfully creamy texture, are quite easy to prepare (no soaking required), and they cook in no time.  Fresh beans do need to be removed from their shell, but this is an easy task, especially when done on a lazy Sunday afternoon over casual conversation.  (Not feeling especially chatty?  Consider the task an act of "mindfulness.")  Fresh beans are available in the late summer/early fall at many farmer's markets.  I recently bought some from Berried Treasures at the farmer's market in Union Square.  These beans might not catch your eye in the market, unless you are in the know (and you are now in the know!).  I usually look for pods that look a little bit dried out, which is a sign that beans inside are plump and ripe.  But the stem should still be green, which is a sign that the bean was recently picked.  Fresh beans can be stored in a paper bag for a few days in the fridge.

These unassuming beans should not be overlooked.

Recipes adapted from: David Lebovitz's Fresh Tomato and Shelling Bean Salad and his Basil Vinaigrette

Ingredients for the salad:

• 2/3 to 1 cup of shelling beans, shucked (you could substitute fresh beans for dried or canned Great Northern beans, but where's the fun in that?!)
• 4 small tomatoes
• salt
• a bay leaf or a few branches of thyme (optional)
• microgreens, for serving (optional; I prefer a slightly peppery mix)
• basil vinaigrette (see below)
• french baguette, for serving

Serves 2.


Directions:

1. In a small  saucepan, bring water to a boil, then add a dash of salt. 
2. Add the beans and optional herbs to the pan.
3. Reduce the heat to a low boil and cook the beans for 20-35 min with the lid ajar, until the beans are tender. At the 20 min mark, check the beans every 3 to 5 min to be sure that they do not overcook.  
4. Quarter the tomatoes, and cut each quarter in half; place in large mixing bowl.
5. When fully cooked, drain the beans and, while they are slightly warm, place them in the bowl with the tomatoes; toss gently with the basil vinaigrette.
6. Divide the salad onto 2 plates.  Dress with microgreens and a healthy drizzle or two (or three) of extra vinaigrette.  Serve with a french baguette (which is particularly good when used to "mop up" the extra vinaigrette). 
   

Fresh beans are wonderfully creamy,
and they cook much faster than dried bean.

Ingredients for the basil vinaigrette:

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 tbsp red (or white) wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp water
• 1 small shallot, or 1 garlic clove, peeled and sliced
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 3/4 tsp kosher salt
• 3 or 4 cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves

Directions:

1. Place olive oil, vinegar, water, shallot or garlic, mustard, and salt in the blender.
2. Coarsely chop the basil leaves; place in blender.  (Don't let the basil sit once you cut it, or it will begin to discolor.)
3. Cover the blender and mix on high-speed until the vinaigrette is smooth. If the dressing is too thick, add a little more olive oil (or water) to thin it out. 

Basil Vinaigrette (i.e., green gold!).

I cannot stop eating this salad -- the "richness" of the beans, the classic pairing of the basil vinaigrette with the fresh flavor of the tomatoes, the bread, the vinaigrette, and the spicy microgreens -- I just can't.  It's divine, and it's even better when served with a lovely bubbly rosé.  It's also extremely easy to throw together if you make the dressing in advance.  As an extra bonus, the dressing is a great way to use up extra basil, and it stores well in the fridge for about a week (just bring it to room temperature before you serve it).  So, really, there are no excuses!  Enjoy! 

Fresh Corn Polenta with Sausage Ragu

Well, it's been a little while...  I'm returning to this forum with a much-loved recipe for fresh corn polenta and sausage ragu that is just perfect for this time of year. 

Make this meal in the late summer or early fall, when corn and tomatoes are at their peak and most abundant.  It's such a delight to buy this type of produce from the farmer's market, and this recipe is the perfect blend of late summer produce and fall sentiments.  I like to get my sweet Italian sausage from Harlem Shambles, on 116th Street. They make their sausages fresh, on site (with a proper amount of fennel seeds, which is so important to this recipe), and they’re delicious. 

What luck! My local farmer's market offers an
equal amount of splendor as, but smaller
crowds than some of the larger
markets in the city.

Recipe adapted from Yotum Ottolenghi's Sweetcorn Polenta with Sausage Ragout for The Guardian.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 corn cobs, husks removed
• chicken bouillon (or 2 cups chicken stock)
• 1 1/2 tbsp butter
• 2/3 cups polenta
• olive oil
• 5 sweet Italian sausages, skins discarded, meat broken into 1" pieces
• 1 large onion, peeled and roughly chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp cumin seeds, toasted and lightly crushed
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/4 tsp harissa paste (optional; I use Dea harrisa)
• 6 large plum tomatoes or 5 medium/large tomatoes, roughly chopped
• a small bunch of cilantro sprigs, tied with string (plus additional leaves to serve; optional)
• fresh basil for serving (optional)

Directions:

1. Fill a medium saucepan with ~2.5” of water and bring to a boil. Cook the cobs for five minutes, until just cooked (if using frozen corn, this step can be omitted). Remove to plate to cool. Use the cooking water from the corn to make 2 cups of chicken stock from bouillon (e.g., I use Better than bouillon). When cool enough to handle, hold each cob vertically on a board and use a serrated knife to shave off the kernels.
2. Add to the stock 1/2 cup water and butter. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat to medium, add the polenta and corn, and stir frequently; cook according to package directions until the mix is the consistency of thick porridge (my package said to cook the polenta for 40 min). Use an immersion blender to create a smooth porridge; set aside. If need be, reheat just before serving.
3. On a medium-high flame, heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan or Dutch oven for which you have a lid. Add the sausage meat and onion and fry for 8 minutes, stirring a few times, until the meat is golden-brown and the onion is soft. Stir in the garlic and spices, and cook for 2 more minutes before adding the tomato paste, harissa, tomatoes, 1 1/3 cups water, and the cilantro bundle. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat to medium high, simmer for 30-45 minutes until the sauce is nicely thick and rich, then remove from the heat and discard the cilantro.
4. Spoon the warm fresh polenta into individual bowls. Top with the ragu. Serve with a final sprinkle of cilantro or fresh basil (and a glass of red wine).

 
Storage: Store the polenta and ragu separately in the fridge for up to a week; leftovers heat up well in the microwave (discard any congealed fat from the ragu first).

This ragu is rich, with a depth of flavor that develops beautifully over its relatively short cooking time.  The onion lends sweetness, while the spices add warmth and a slightly unique character.  The fresh herbs add a brightness and tie everything together.  Against all of this, the mild sweetness of the polenta is the perfect complement to this rich tomato sauce.  Like many of Ottolenghi's recipes, this one succeeds in blending a variety of flavors together in an unconventional, yet somehow most familiar and intuitive way.  If you've never made one of Ottolenghi's recipes, I suggest trying this one.  It's forgiving, relatively uncomplicated, and full of flavor.  I think you'll love it!