Brothy Beans Recipes

Steps:

• For the brothy beans: Put the beans in a large bowl with cold water to cover by 2 inches. Soak in the refrigerator at least 8 hours and up to 12 hours.
• Drain and rinse the beans. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the smoked meat if using and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisped, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the onion and other chopped vegetables. Cook, stirring occasionally, until just softened, about 3 minutes.
• For the aromatics: Add the aromatics of your choice (use up to 3) and cook, stirring, until sizzling, about 1 minute.
• Add the beans and bay leaves along with cold water to cover by about 2 inches (8 to 9 cups). Submerge the woody herb sprigs in the water if using. Bring to a simmer, partially cover the pot with the lid and cook until the beans are very tender, 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, depending on the type of bean.
• To serve, remove and discard the bay leaves and herb sprigs. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season with 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons according to your taste. Stir in the fresh herbs.
• Italian: Follow the recipe using cannellini beans, pancetta, celery, carrots, garlic, rosemary and parsley.
• Latin: Follow the recipe using black beans, ham, bell pepper, tomato, sofrito, jalapeno and cilantro.
• Cajun: Follow the recipe using black eyed peas, andouille, celery, bell pepper, tomato paste, thyme and chives.
• Tex-Mex: Follow the recipe using pinto beans, celery, carrot, garlic, adobo sauce and cilantro.

Steps:

• Combine the beans, fennel, tomato, 6 cloves garlic and the lemon zest in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Tie the thyme, parsley stems and 1/2 leek together with kitchen twine; add to the pot. Add 4 1/2 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cover and cook on low until the beans are tender, 7 to 9 hours.
• Preheat the broiler. Discard the leek bundle from the beans and stir well. Gently smash the garlic against the side of the slow cooker; season with salt and pepper. Let stand uncovered.
• Thinly slice the remaining 1/2 leek into matchsticks. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the leek and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned and crisp, 6 to 9 minutes. Transfer the crispy leek to paper towels with a slotted spoon; season with salt. Reserve the leek oil.
• Arrange the bread on a baking sheet and brush both sides with the leek oil. Pour any excess leek oil into the beans. Broil the bread, turning once, until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Rub with the remaining garlic clove and season with salt.
• Stir the lemon juice into the beans. Divide among bowls with a slotted spoon; pour some bean broth into each bowl. Drizzle evenly with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Top with the crispy leek, chives and chopped parsley. Serve with the bread.

Steps:

• If you remember, soak the beans in cold water overnight, or for 10 to 12 hours. Rinse beans, and place in a large heavy-bottomed pot with onion, garlic, Parmesan rinds, olive oil and salt. Cover beans with water, so the water level is a couple of inches above the beans, and bring to a boil, then turn heat down so it's simmering gently. Put a lid on the pot, and cook until beans are tender, adding more water as needed to keep the beans submerged. This could take 1 to 2 hours or more, depending on the beans and whether or not you soaked them. (If you're using an electric pressure cooker: Add 5 cups water, set the machine to high pressure and cook for 25 minutes, then allow the machine to slowly depressurize on its own.)
• Use a spoon to fish out the onion, garlic and cheese rinds; discard. Taste a couple of beans along with the broth. It should be opaque and slightly creamy; adjust the seasoning with more salt if needed.
• Brush both sides of each piece of bread with olive oil, and place on a foil-lined sheet pan. Run the pan under the broiler for 2 minutes, so the bread is crisp at the edges and nicely toasted, then flip bread and repeat. While the bread is still hot, rub a garlic clove along one side of each piece, as if you were grating the garlic on the bread, pushing just firmly enough for the clove to fray and dissolve slightly into the bread.
• To assemble, place a piece of bread at the bottom of four wide, shallow bowls and ladle hot beans and broth on top. Wait a few seconds for the bread to absorb some broth, then ladle a little extra on each one, so it's swimming. Garnish the bowls generously: Drizzle olive oil all over the beans, sprinkle with herbs and flaky sea salt, cover with finely grated Parmesan and grind a little black pepper on top.

Steps:

• Place beans, onion, carrots, and celery in a large pot and add cold water to cover by several inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer very gently until beans are cooked almost all the way through, about 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and continue to cook, adding more water if needed to keep beans submerged, until tender (outside skin should still be intact), 45-60 minutes. Discard onion, carrots, and celery.
• Transfer beans and broth to a serving dish or a large bowl; season very generously with salt (start with 2 Tbsp.) and pepper and drizzle with oil.
• Beans can be cooked and seasoned 2 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Reheat gently before serving.