Cranberry Bean Pasta Fagioli

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 5 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1 small onion, roughly chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more to taste
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 2-ounce piece pancetta (optional)
• 5 canned whole San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand
• Kosher salt
• 3 pounds fresh cranberry beans in pods, shelled (or 1 cup dried cranberry beans, soaked overnight)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 piece parmesan cheese rind, plus 1/2 cup grated parmesan, and more for topping
• 2 cups small pasta, such as shells or ditalini
• 1 bunch kale, stems and ribs discarded, leaves chopped
• 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley
• Freshly ground pepper

Directions

Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, red pepper flakes, rosemary and pancetta, if using, and cook 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and cook 2 more minutes; season with salt. Add the beans, 3 quarts water, the bay leaves and parmesan rind. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the beans are tender, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Uncover the pot and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Add the kale and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 5 to 6 more minutes. (The soup should be thick and creamy; thin with water, if necessary.)

Remove the bay leaves, parmesan rind and pancetta, if used. Add the grated parmesan, parsley, the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Top with more olive oil and parmesan.

Photograph by Tina Rupp

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Cranberry Bean

Vegetable Gratin

Prep Time: 40 min

Inactive Prep: 5 min

Cook Time: 1 hr 0 min

Total:1 hr 45 min

Ingredients

• Olive oil
• 1 large onion, small diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 1/2 cups peeled, seeded, chopped tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon minced thyme leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 3 Japanese eggplants, peeled in alternating 1-inch strips, leaving some of the skin on, sliced diagonally into 1/4-inch thick slices
• 3 small zucchini, ends trimmed, and sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds
• 1 cup grated mozzarella
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Directions

In a large saute pan set over medium heat, add enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil is hot, add the onions and saute until translucent, but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring. Add the tomatoes and cook until they start to give off their liquid, about 5 minutes. Add the thyme and season with salt and pepper. Add the sugar and cook until there is almost no liquid left, about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Lay the eggplant and zucchini out on a flat surface and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil.

In another large saute pan set over medium high heat, add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil just starts to smoke, add the eggplant in 1 layer and cook just until golden brown on both sides, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. You might need to do this in batches. Remove to a paper towel lined plate. Blot the top with additional paper towels.

In the same pan, add more olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil just starts to smoke, add the zucchini in 1 layer and saute until just browned on each side, about 1 minute per side. Remove to a paper towel lined plate.

In a shallow roasting pan or baking dish, spread half of the tomato sauce evenly over the bottom. Begin layering the eggplant and zucchini along the outside of the baking dish so they are overlapping slightly. Continue until the pan is full and the eggplant and zucchini is used. Cover the top with the remaining tomato sauce, spreading evenly. Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the top, covering completely.

Place the baking dish inside a large baking dish. Pour hot water into the larger baking dish about half way up the sides to make a water bath. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly. Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

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Low Carb Pizza

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups soy flour
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup club soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/8 cup diced red onion
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
• 3 large Roma tomatoes, diced
• 8 ounces no sugar added tomato sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (may substitute Italian seasoning for dried herbs)
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Toppings:

• 24 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
• 8 ounces pepperoni slices
• 1/2 cup crumbled Italian sausage, cooked
• 1/2 cup diced Parma ham
• 1/3 cup julienned red bell peppers
• 1/3 cup julienned green bell peppers
• 1/3 cup julienned red onion
• 2 portobello mushroom caps, sliced
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Pinch dried oregano

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Make the crust: Generously spray 2 (12-inch) pizza pans with nonstick vegetable oil cooking spray. In a medium bowl, stir together all of the crust ingredients to make a smooth, thick, pancake-like batter. Using a rubber spatula, spread the batter as thin and evenly as possible over the 2 pans.

Place pizza crusts on center racks of the oven and bake for about 12 to 15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown and firm to touch.

Remove crusts from oven and increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.

Meanwhile, make the sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, heat olive oil and then sweat onions and garlic in oil, cooking just until softened and translucent. Add diced tomatoes and the remaining ingredients and simmer for about 2 minutes.

Compile the pizzas: Spread the tomato sauce and then the mozzarella cheese evenly over both crusts. Top 1 pizza with pepperoni, sausage, and ham, and top the other with the bell pepper strips, onions, and mushrooms. Lightly sprinkle 1 tablespoon olive oil over each pizza, and sprinkle each with a dash of dried oregano.

Place the pizzas back in the oven to bake for another 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cheese melts and starts to brown. Cut each pizza into 8 slices. 

SOURCE:  Low Carb Pizza