Kidney Bean and Roasted Garlic Puree

Vegetables purees are at the center of classic French cooking, but they are not as popular in Italy. One exception however, are silky smooth bean purees, and this one is augmented by the nutty sweetness of roasted garlic.

Makes 6 to 8 servings | Prep time: 20 minutes | Minimum cook time: 3 hours in a medium slow cooker

11/2 cups dried kidney beans

2 teaspoons salt

5 cups Vegetable Stock or purchased stock

1 medium onion, halved through the root end

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 bay leaf

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

4 heads Roasted Garlic, cloves removed

1/4 cup olive oil

1. Rinse beans in a colander and place them in a mixing bowl covered with 1 quart cold water mixed with salt. Allow beans to soak for at least six hours, or overnight. Or place beans into a saucepan with water and salt, and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil 1 minute. Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and soak beans for 1 hour. With either soaking method, drain beans, discard soaking water, and begin cooking as soon as possible.

2. Add drained beans, stock, onion, garlic, and bay leaf to the slow cooker. Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or on High for 3 to 4 hours, or until beans are tender. Add salt and pepper prior to the last hour of cooking time. Remove and discard onion and bay leaf.

3. Drain beans, reserving 1 cup of cooking liquid. Remove pulp from roasted garlic, and discard skins. Combine garlic with 1/2 cup cooking liquid in a food processor fitted with a steel blade or a blender. Puree until smooth. Add beans and puree until smooth, adding more cooking liquid if necessary. Drizzle olive oil through the feed tube. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve hot.

Note: The dish can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and refrigerated, tightly covered. Reheat it, covered, in a 350°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until hot.

Variations:

images Substitute cannellini beans or garbanzo beans for the kidney beans. Add 1 hour of cooking time on Low or 30 minutes of cooking time on High if cooking garbanzo beans.

images Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes to the slow cooker for a spicier dish.

Garlic is native to Asia Minor, so it’s not surprising that the ancient Egyptians worshiped garlic and placed clay models of garlic bulbs in the tomb of Tutankhamen. Garlic was so highly prized it was even used as currency.