Borlotti Bean Stew By Chef Tom Hunt

Ingredients:

  • Bortolli bean stew: 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 carrots with tops (carrots finely diced, topskept for the pesto)
  • 200g tomatoes, cut into 1-2 cm pieces
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 240g cooked borlotti beans, plus the cookingliquid
  • For the pesto: 25g carrot tops, well cleaned, plus extra togarnish
  • 25g basil, parsley or oregano
  • 1 small garlic clove, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp pine nuts or bread crumbs toasted
  • 1 tbsp grated parmesan or nutritional yeast
  • 110ml extra virgin olive oil
  • To serve: breadcrumbs, lemon zest, chopped herbs,extra virgin olive oil

Method:

  1. To make the borlotti bean stew, heat a heavybased
    pan with two tablespoons of extra virgin
    olive oil over medium-low heat.

  2. Lightly crush
    two cloves of garlic and add them to the pan
    still in the skin with a small sprig of
    rosemary and a bay leaf.

  3. Add the carrots to the
    pan and gently sauté for five minutes, then
    stir in the tomatoes. Add the vinegar and bring
    to a boil.

  4. Add the cooked beans with 150ml of
    cooking liquid, bring to a boil with a lid on
    top, and simmer for 5-10 minutes.

  5. Remove the
    lid and continue cooking until the liquid
    begins to thicken. Season and serve topped with
    pesto and carrot tops.

  6. To make the pesto, finely chop the carrot tops
    and basil or other herbs and place them in a
    food processor, along with the garlic clove,
    pine nuts or breadcrumbs, parmesan or
    nutritional yeast and 110ml of olive oil.

  7. Pulse-blend until you have a rough but even
    texture.

  8. Use immediately or store in a clean, sealed jar
    in the fridge for up to a week.

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