Crispy Cranberry Beans
Crispy roasted Borlotti beans with garlic and herbs have a crunchy outside and a creamy inside. This simple recipe makes a great side dish, snack, or topper for salads and soups.
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 1 hr
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 cup dried Italian Borlotti or cranberry beans ( or 1 pound of fresh beans in their pods then shelled)
- 4 cups water (approximately)
- 1 ¼ teaspoons salt divided
- 2 scant tablespoons finely chopped fresh mixed herbs (about 1 handful of freshly picked herbs (Like rosemary, sage, mint, and thyme))
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- several grinds freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- 1
Sort and rinse beans. Place beans and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Make sure there is enough water to cover the beans. Turn the heat lower, cover with the lid ajar, and simmer, stirring occasionally. About half way through cooking, stir in ½ teaspoon salt (about 30-40 minutes into the cooking for dried beans or about 20-25 minutes for fresh). If necessary, add more water as you cook so that the beans remain covered by water. Simmer beans until soft and creamy, about 1 hour 15 minutes for dried beans (or about 45 minutes for fresh beans). The time varies depending on the specific batch of beans. Check several different beans for doneness before turning off the stove; sometimes not all the beans are ready at once. Drain. Discard bean water or save for another use if desired. The beans turn light brown in color once cooked.
- 2
Select a large, ovenproof saute pan. Sauté chopped herbs and minced garlic in olive oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often. Preheat the oven to 450° F (230°C).
- 3
When the beans are soft, add them to the pan, and toss them with the herb mixture, ¾ teaspoon of salt, and pepper. Spread out the beans in a flat, even layer. At this point, you can refrigerate the beans and finish the dish later. Or complete the dish now and serve.
- 4
Place the beans in the oven for about 10 minutes. Then stir, add a tiny bit more oil if needed, and put back in the oven for 5 minutes more or until the beans are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Place the beans under the broiler for 2 minutes if needed for extra crispness. Serve warm.