Braised Cannellini Beans with Pancetta and Pesto
Today’s post are these Braised Cannellini Beans with Pancetta and Pesto, and while it makes for a great side dish to many dishes, it’s delicious all on it’s own. I don’t know about you, but there are some evenings when I really do not feel like cooking. Mustering up the strength the get in the kitchen and cook an elaborate meal just isn’t in the cards sometimes. It’s dishes like this one, the kind that take hardly any effort at all, and come together quickly, that are a life saver. You don’t need super complicated or fancy recipes all the time. Sometimes, a simple and humble dish like braised beans is all you need and this one here really gets the job done.
I’m a big fan of cannellini beans and together with the brightness from the homemade pesto, it works so well together. Plus the saltiness from the cheese and the pancetta all works perfectly. I hope you give this Braised Cannellini Beans with Pancetta and Pesto a try and if you do, be sure to let me know what you think below. Thank you for reading and following along.
Braised Cannellini Beans with Pancetta and Pesto
Equipment
- Skillet
- Food processor
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 ounces pancetta diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 30 ounces canned cannellini beans
- Kosher salt and coarse black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 small bay leaves
- 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan plus more for serving
Pesto:
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup fresh parsley leaves
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- 1 lemon zested and juiced
- Kosher salt and coarse black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- Crusty bread for serving
Instructions
- Set a saucepan over moderate heat. Drizzle in the olive oil and add the pancetta and garlic. Cook until crispy and browned.
- Drain and rinse one of the cans of beans. Add to the pan along with the entire contents of the second can of beans. Season with a large pinch of salt and pepper. Stir in the stock, crushed red pepper flakes and bay leaves. Lower the flame and simmer for 15 minutes or until thickened. If it’s too thick, add a splash more water or stock.
- Meanwhile, to make the pesto, in a food processor, combine the basil, parsley, parmesan, pine nuts, lemon zest and juice, a big pinch of salt and pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Pulse a few times until evenly chopped through. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while the machine is running and run until the pesto has thickened. Give it a taste and adjust seasoning accordingly.
- Once the beans are done, remove from the heat, discard the bay leaves, and stir in the 1/3 cup parmesan until melted through. Serve with dollops of the pesto along with some crusty bread for dipping. Enjoy!
