Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 3 x 14-ounce cans White Beans ( 4 ½ cups cooked), drained  (or scroll down for Instant Pot Dry beans)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, rough chopped
  • 1 cup veggie broth or chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dried herbs de Provence (or sub dried thyme or rosemary)
  • 2 cups lacinato kale, packed (about 1 small bunch, stems removed)
  • ½ bunch Italian parsley or basil (about 1 cup packed, thins stems ok) or a combo of both
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • zest and juice from one medium lemon
  • ¼ cup nuts (optional) -like toasted sliced almonds, cashews, toasted pinenuts, smoked almonds are nice too (or leave them out)
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup water (or more, just to get this into a thick “paste”)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1-2 slices bread, torn into little pieces
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1-2 garlic cloves, smashed
  • pinch salt
  • 1  pound dry white beans ( soaked 8-24 hours- see notes)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, rough chopped
  • 4 cups veggie or chicken stock
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 teaspoon herbs de Provence ( or sub dried thyme or rosemary)

Instruction

  • If making the white beans in an Instant Pot, scroll down and start them now.
  • In a large pot or dutch oven, heat the oil, over medium high heat. Add the onion and garlic, stirring for 3-4 minus until fragrant. Lower heat to medium, and sautéed 3-4 more minutes. Add the beans, broth, dried herbs and bring to a gentle simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and set heat to low heat.
  • Place the Kale, parsley and garlic in a food processor. Pulse until chopped. Add the remaining ingredients- zest, lemon juice, oil, water, salt, nuts ( if using). Pulse until well combined but not too smooth. Scrap down sides, pulse again.
  • Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Swirl the smashed garlic in the oil infusing it, until the garlic is deeply golden and fragrant, season the oil with salt. Remove the garlic. Add fresh torn bread to the skillet and fry until golden and crispy, stirring.  Set aside.
  • Add the lemony kale pesto to the warm beans, gently incorporating. To loosen add more broth to get it a stewy consistency. You don’t want this too soupy, or too dry. Inbetween. 🙂 Let this warm up but don’t cook too long or you’ll loose the lovely color.
  • Taste for salt and lemon. I typically add both. If it’s bland- it needs both.  You want this lemony and slightly salty!
  • Serve with garlicky croutons, and a sprinkle of pecorino cheese. Or add avocado,  a poached egg,  crumbled goat cheese.