A simple Italian side dish, escarole and beans tastes fancier than the sum of its parts and the effort involved. This classic recipe features a silky Parmesan-enriched broth, lots of garlic, and perfectly tender escarole for a quasi-soup that's hearty, warming, and filling.
1large head ofescarolechopped into bite-size pieces
3Tablespoonsolive oil
Half of amediumoniondiced
5clovesgarlicchopped
Pinch ofkosher saltor to taste
Pinch ofground black pepperor to taste
4cupsreduced-sodium chicken broth
1-1.5ouncepiece of Parmesanor Pecorino Romano
115.5-ounce (439g) cancannellini beansrinsed and drained
Instructions
Rinse escarole leaves very well with cool water to remove dirt and debris. Pat dry and chop them into large bite-size pieces. Set aside for now.
Add olive oil to a large pot and heat over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 6 minutes, or until starting to turn golden, stirring periodically. Add the chopped garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. Season with kosher salt and pepper.
Pour in the broth and add the piece of Pecorino or Parmesan. Cover the pot and adjust the heat to a simmer. Let everything simmer for 20 minutes. Once the time is up, you can either remove the softened cheese that remains or chop it into smaller pieces and just add it back to the pot.
After the simmer, add the chopped escarole and rinsed beans to the pot and stir as the escarole wilts. Cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until the escarole is tender. Serve with grated Pecorino/Parmesan, crushed red pepper flakes, and/or lightly-toasted crusty Italian bread.
Notes
Escarole: You can find this among the lettuces in the produce department. Check the label carefully as they can be easily confused for one another.Parmesan: Use the a piece of the rind or just a whole piece from the wedge.Broth: Add more if you'd like more of a soupier dish. If doing so adjust the seasonings as needed.Recipe Tips
The Parmesan can simmer in the broth for longer than 20 minutes if convenient. Just don't add the escarole/beans until the last 5 minutes of cook time.
To freeze, add to an air-tight container or a zip-top bag with the air pressed out for several months.
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.