2009_01_12-Heirlooms02.jpgWe promised you three recipes from Heirloom Beans, the new book by Rancho Gordo Steve Sando. First up is also the first recipe we bookmarked to try from this wonderful cookbook: a stew of soft, creamy beans with homemade tomato sauce, ladled over a dish of polenta.

Borlotti beans are also known as cranberry beans. In some places you can find these fresh, still in their mottled magenta pods. They are beautiful, cheap, and worth buying! I could find these easily when I lived in Florida, and I cooked them frequently. Fresh beans cook much faster than dried, of course, which is another advantage.

Whether you find fresh beans or dried, you can find cooking directions in this post:
• How To Cook Beans

• Buy Heirloom Beans, $15 at Amazon

Borlotti Beans in Tomato Sauce with Creamy Polenta

This is a complete winter's meal. It's hearty and vegetarian, but if you want to include Italian sausage, cook it separately, slice it, and serve on top of the finished dish. For a streamlined process, make the tomato sauce and the beans ahead and heat them together while you cook the polenta.

Serves 4 to 6

Tomato Sauce
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 medium fennel bulb, trimmed and chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
4 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salt
1 small carrot, peeled and shredded
One 28-ounce can whole San Marzano tomatoes or plum tomatoes
Freshly ground pepper

2 cups drained, cooked borlotti beans
1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Polenta
4 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup polenta
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnishing
Freshly ground pepper

Make the sauce: In a small Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion, the fennel, the garlic, 2 teaspoons of the oregano, the red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt. Sauté until the vegetables are soft and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Add the carrot and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, stirring to break them up with a wooden spoon. Add another pinch of salt. Reduce the heat to low and cook, uncovered, at the barest simmer, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are reduced and beginning to separate from the oil, at least 2 hours or up to 3 hours. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons oregano and salt and pepper to taste. The sauce can be made up to this point 1 or 2 days ahead. Let cool and refrigerate.

Make the polenta: About 45 minutes before serving, bring the water to a boil in a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add the salt and, whisking continuously, slowly pour the polenta into the water in a thin stream. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring nearly constantly with a long-handled wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens, the grains soften, and the polenta begins to pull away from the sides of the pan, 40 to 45 minutes. Stir in the butter and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, and season with pepper. Cover to keep warm.

Add the beans to the tomato sauce and warm them together over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Stir in the parsley about 5 minutes before serving.

Spoon the polenta into warmed shallow bowls and make a well in the center of each serving. Spoon the tomato sauce into the well. Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

Substitution Note: This dish is best made with a rich, creamy bean. If borlotti are unavailable, try French horticulture, or wren's egg.

Related: Rancho Gordo New World Specialty Food