Introduction
Discover the comfort of homemade, slow-cooked dishes with our “Slow-Cooked Tomato and Herb White Beans” recipe. This hearty meal is perfect for cold days or any time you desire a warm, flavorful bowl that’s full of wholesome ingredients.
Tips for this Recipe
To enhance the dish’s robustness and ensure tender beans, start with soaking your navy beans overnight before cooking. Additionally, building flavor profiles by layering in aromatic vegetables and herbs can transform a simple stew into an extraordinary meal.
Why you will love this recipe
This slow-cooked delight is not just about the richness of tomatoes and beans; it’s also a symphony of herbs that harmonize in every bite. The tender beans, balanced by the robust carrot and onion base, make this dish irresistible for those who appreciate home-cooked meals with bold flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried navy beans
- 6 cups water
- 1 medium carrot, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 medium white onion, coarsely chopped
- 4 thyme sprigs
- 1 rosemary sprig
- 1 sage sprig
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 bacon slices, chopped
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium white onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup minced garlic (from 1 to 2 heads)
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 pound tomatoes, chopped (3 cups)
- 1/2 cup canned tomato purée
Advised equipment
– Slow Cooker: A multi-cook appliance designed for low temperature, long-duration cooking suitable for stews like slow-cooked tomato and herb white beans.
– Dutch Oven: With thick walls that retain heat well, it’s ideal for slow cooking foods such as dishes involving melded flavors.
– Large Casserole Dish: Suitable for roasting or simmering large quantities of ingredients like a big batch of white beans with vegetables and herbs.
– Immersion Blender: Useful for pureeing soups directly in the pot, enhancing flavors and textures after slow cooking.
– Food Mill: Perfect for processing whole ingredients into a smooth sauce or broth, ideal for achieving an ultra-smooth consistency in dishes.
– High-Speed Blender: Great for blending vegetables to create a rich base before slow cooking and making additional sauces afterward.
– Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls: Essential for preparation, used for mixing ingredients like herbs or spices that will be added during the slow cooking process.
– Can Opener: Necessary equipment to safely open cans of beans and other ingredients without injury or contamination.
History of the recipe
Slow cooking beans has been a culinary tradition across cultures for centuries, as it’s an effective method to tenderize and enhance flavors. This particular recipe with tomatoes and herbs is inspired by rustic Mediterranean cuisine that values the marriage of fresh produce with simple staples like beans.
Fun facts about this recipe
Did you know? The use of bacon in cooking, especially when paired with vegetables and legumes as we see here, is a time-honored tradition meant to add depth of flavor. It’s also believed that slow cookers were invented during the early 20th century, revolutionizing home kitchens by allowing complex dishes to be prepared in an automated way.