Chicken , Cannellinis, and Spinach

[Piparskeggr]

This combination of recipes makes 6 servings...

Poached Chicken Thighs with Green Onion and Parsley

Food stuffs: 6 sm boneless chicken thighs (about 6 oz each), 3 T olive oil, 1 1/2 c Chicken stock, 1 c green onion - julienned, 3 T Worcestershire sauce, 3 T fresh parsley - chopped

Method: In a large saute pan heat the olive oil over high heat.  Add the chicken, cook a about 1 minute on each side.  Add in the onions, Worcestershire and stock; let come to a boil and then lower to medium heat.  Cover and simmer 20 minutes, turn the chicken and then simmer another 20 - 30 minutes on low, or until done.  Garnish with the parsley.

Cannellini Beans with Garlic and Sage

Foodstuffs: 1# dried Cannellini beans, 8 c warm water, 2 T olive oil, 1 lg garlic head - unpeeled, top 1/2" cut off to expose cloves, 1/c c fresh sage leaves - whole, 1/2 t whole black peppercorns, 1/2 t crystal ginger - lightly crushed, 1 t coarse kosher salt - 3 T ea extra-virgin olive oil and aged Asiago - shredded, blck pepper, smoked salt

Method: Place beans in large bowl. Cover with cold water (at least 6 cups); soak overnight. Drain beans and place in heavy large pot. Add 8 c room-temperature water, 2 T olive oil, garlic, sage, ginger and black peppercorns. Bring to simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer uncovered 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Mix in 1 t coarse salt. Continue to simmer until beans are tender, adding more water if needed to keep beans covered, about 30 minutes longer. Cool beans in liquid 1 hour.  Using a slotted spoon and transfer the beans to a serving bowl. Reserve the bean cooking liquid, for steaming the spinach.  Discard the garlic, sage, ginger and peppercorns. Season beans to taste with fresh cracked black pepper and coarse ground smoked salt. Garnish with olive oil and Asiago.

Steamed Spinach with Lemon and Oil

Foodstuffs: 12 c whole leaf spinach, 4 c bean liquid (or water), 1/4 c lemon juice - fresh squeezed with pulp, 3 T garlic - diced fine, 6 T olive oil

Method:  Place the reserved liquid into a large pan and put in a steaming basket.  Bring it to a boil and then add in the spinach.  Cook (while stirring a bit) until the leaves are lightly wilted.  Place into a large serving dish, add in the lemon, garlic and oil, toss to mix.

With a meal like this, I like to drink semi-sweet white or rosé wine (white Zinfandel is nice ), or a light bodied ale. However, the best beverage is the one you like.

[Piparskeggr]

I refined the Refried Canelloni Pizza idea:

Foodstuffs: 4 c cooked cannelloni beans, 1/2 c bean cooking liquid (one could use canned beans with some of the liquid), 8 cloves garlic
- minced, 1 T fresh rosemary minced, 1 t smoked salt - well-crushed,
1/2 T black pepper - fresh cracked, 1/2 c dry white wine, 6 T olive
oil, 4 whole wheat focacchio rounds - 8", 4 sm Roma tomatoes - trimmed and thinly sliced, 8 T Asiago - finely grated, 2 T fresh oregano -
minced

Method:  In a heavy saute pan bring 4 T oil to high heat, sweat the
garlic until light gold and add in the rosemary and beans, stir for 3
- 4 minutes, add in the liquid and wine, stir the beans over med heat
while mashing them into a smooth paste, stir in the salt and pepper,
let the mix thicken and "dry" a little (careful not to scorch ,-) and
remove from the heat.  Brush each focacchio round with 1/2 T oil and
then spread 1/4 of the bean mix on each.  Place the slices of 1 tomato
on each and sprinkle with 2 T Asiago and 1/2 T oregano.  Pop under the broiler until the cheese is melted and light brown.

One can substitute fresh basil for the oregano, or use a mix...

[Piparskeggr]

Asiago is one of the Italian cheese varieties.

I find it "sharper" than either Romano or Parmesan, especially aged Asiago.

[1centwiz]

What's Asiagio?

[Piparskeggr]

Hey;

That looks like an Italian version of re-fried beans ,-)

Hmmm...small rounds of whole grain Foccachio bread, spread with the Cannelloni mix, thin slices of Roma tomato, freshly grated Asiago, a little chopped, fresh oregano...pop under the broiler until the cheese is lightly browned.

[TrudieC]

Great recipes!  I am a huge lover of cannellini beans.  I often use a recipe I stole from Nigella Lawson to make a fast and tasty side dish.  In a frying pan add a healthy amount of olive oil.  Based on your love of it, add as much garlic as you like - I add at least 3 cloves minced and a sprinkling of fresh or dried rosemary.  Then add one or two cans of drained cannellini beans.  Mash the beans until the mixture looks like mashed potatoes.  Add salt and pepper and more olive oil so that the mixture is still moist and not dry.  Serve.  We love this!