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White Bean Gratin





Total Time
4 hrs

Santa Maria-style tri-tip is traditionally served with little red pinquito beans. We came up with this fancy bean dish for our fancier tri-tip, but it’s great with the other roasts too.

Vegetarian Christmas: White Bean Gratin (1217)




Photo by Maren Caruso; written by Kate Washington
 3 cups dried cannellini beans
  About 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
 1 onion, sliced into thin half-moons
  2-ounce piece slab bacon (or 2 oz. thick-cut regular bacon)
 4 garlic cloves, crushed, plus 1 tsp. finely chopped garlic
 2 large sage sprigs, plus 2 tsp. finely chopped fresh sage
 2 bay leaves
 1 teaspoon pepper, divided
 1 tablespoon kosher salt
 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
 1 tablespoon lemon zest
 1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
Step 1
1

Put beans in a large pot and cover with 1 in. cold water. Bring to a boil; turn off heat and let beans sit, covered, 1 hour. Drain and return to pot. Add 2 cups chicken broth, 7 cups water, the onion, bacon, crushed garlic, sage sprigs, bay leaves, and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Simmer, uncovered, about 1 hour, or until beans are just tender.

Step 2
2

Preheat oven to 375°. Add salt and cook beans until soft but not falling apart, 20 to 30 minutes.

Step 3
3

Discard bacon, sage sprigs, and bay leaves. Drain beans into a colander set over a bowl; reserve liquid. Pour beans back into pot.

Step 4
4

Blend 2 cups beans, 1/2 cup bean liquid, and 1/4 cup oil in a blender until smooth. Stir purée into beans along with chopped garlic and sage, rosemary, and remaining 1/2 tsp. pepper. Pour beans into a 3-qt. gratin dish and add enough bean liquid to just cover beans (if you have liquid left, save for soup; if you don't have enough, use more broth).

Step 5
5

Bake until top is starting to set, 25 minutes. Mix zest, panko, and remaining 2 tbsp. oil in a bowl. Sprinkle over beans and bake until bubbly and browned and liquid has thickened, 30 minutes.

Step 6
6

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
Calories 261Calories from Fat 28
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 8.5g14%

Saturated Fat 1.6g8%
Cholesterol 5.2mg2%
Sodium 432mg18%
Total Carbohydrate 33g11%

Dietary Fiber 8.4g34%
Protein 13g26%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.