Give-away closed. 10/18/09
Sweet potatoes, brown rice, and quinoa are all wonderful but sometimes I get tired of them and want a delicious alternative. Last winter I started using white beans as a side dish. The great thing about white beans is that you can dress them up or dress them down and they go with so many different main courses. They’re cheap, too. I prefer to cook my own beans because I can flavor them how I want. I like to throw in a carrot, some celery, onions, garlic, and fresh thyme. Reduce the cooking liquid by half and you’ll have a flavorful broth to use in soups. Canned beans always work beautifully in a pinch, though.
I love this white bean gratin because it takes simple white beans and elevates them to an almost elegant status. The top gets crispy while the beans inside are warm and soft. And, better yet, it’s naturally sugar-free and gluten-free. I put my Slightly Indulgent spin on them. Most gratins are full of lots of cheese, sometimes heavy cream, and bread crumbs. My version is full of great flavor and texture but a little bit healthier. I hope you enjoy it.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups cooked white beans, divided
- 1 cup cooking liquid or liquid from the canned beans
- ½ teaspoon white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (or to taste)
- ¼ cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon brown rice bread crumbs
- 1 small garlic clove, grated on a microplane
- 1 tablespoon good quality extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place 2 cups of the beans in a medium bowl. Put the remaining beans in a 4 cup glass measuring cup. Add the cooking liquid or liquid from canned beans and vinegar. Use an immersion blender to puree the beans and liquid. Taste and adjust seasoning. Pour puree over beans and gently stir to coat. Divide beans between the gratin dishes.
- In a separate bowl, combine parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, and garlic. Drizzle olive oil over mixture and, using a fork, cut the oil into the bread crumb mixture. Divide topping evenly between gratins and sprinkle on top, about 1 tablespoon each.
- Place gratins on a sheet pan and bake for 20 – 25 minutes, until bubbly around the outside. Garnish with parsley if desired and serve hot.
Notes
Variation: You can easily put this all in one baking dish if you don’t have individual gratin dishes.
Featured Blogger – Trish from Gluten-Free in Salt Lake City
Trish has been sharing fabulous recipes since the very first week of Slightly Indulgent Mondays. I’ve come to look forward to her creations – each one unique with her own special touch. Her thoughts on living gluten-free:
Someday, we’ll invite our friends to my fantasy world – a bright kitchen in a historic arts and crafts house, the counter piled with gluten free deliciousness. A pizza night, where the boy and his posse come bursting through the door with big grins (grins that don’t seem to match their 30-something builds), and we share an evening of laughter, over good food. This is a beautiful tradition that unites people, and I feel that those who eat gluten free need not be excluded from this kind of joy. Of course, this is a few years off – after school finishes, jobs (that pay a living wage) are secured, and we tie the knot.
I fell in love with someone who was loving, inspiring, warm, and kind. This process of healing has helped his tired soul find some new life, and it has brought our world into full color. I find that I cook a lot of “man food” – comfort foods, grilled meats, and a circus full of muffin flavors. Cooking and baking, with the new twist of being gluten free, despite its challenges, has brought us both a lot of healing.
This Week’s Give-Away: Le Creuset Mini-Gratin Dishes
See the mini-gratin dish I used? This week I’m giving away two of them courtesy of Accent Furnitre. I love them because they can go in your freezer, microwave, oven, and under the broiler. The individual gratins add a special touch to any meal.
Enter to win by:
- linking up
- leaving a comment
- tweet about the give-away and leave a comment
- link back from your blog and leave a comment
The give-away will be open until Sunday at 8 pm.
Please make sure to link to your post instead of your homepage AND include a link back to this post so your readers can join in, too.
Powered by… Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets.
Linda
posted on October 11, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I accidentally hit enter while putting in my name. My entry is an orange coffee cake that I adapted from a gluten cookbook.
The beans look good. I often think about using them more because they are cheap and a good source of protein. We just don’t digest them real well, if you know what I mean.
[Reply]
Lisa@blessedwithgrace
posted on October 11, 2009 at 9:38 pm
That recipe looks wonderful. I am so excited to be participating this week. AND now even more excited since you have such a great giveaway!! I even twitted before I knew about the giveaway. Thanks Amy.
[Reply]
Lisa@blessedwithgrace
posted on October 11, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I just tweeted about the giveaway.
http://twitter.com/blessedwGrace/status/4799315823
[Reply]
Lisa@blessedwithgrace
posted on October 11, 2009 at 9:40 pm
I put your button and linked to you at the bottom of my post for this weeks TMTT. Thanks again.
http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com/2009/10/tempt-my-tummy-tuesday-pumpkin-cake.html
[Reply]
Amanda
posted on October 11, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Wow, that looks fabulous! I cooked and froze some white beans a few weeks ago. This looks like a perfect recipe to bust them out for. Maybe I’ll even have new mini-gratin dishes to do it in!
[Reply]
Amy @ Finer Things
posted on October 11, 2009 at 10:34 pm
I never think of such creative recipes! And our side dishes are quite often boring. This sounds delicious.
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 11th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
I thought of you when I made this. Good food, great price.
[Reply]
Ari- Food Intolerances Cook
posted on October 12, 2009 at 1:32 am
Amy- I’ve been trying to incorporate more beans into my diet too! This recipe looks really delicious!
My bread is slightly indulgent because it is made with whole grains, has very little sweetener, and is made with fresh corn!
It is also great served with another bean dish! I love it with my black bean soup (links on my website too).
Although I don’t really like the cold, I do enjoy the “warm and comforting” recipes it brings: soups, dishes, and breads etc that just feel like fall.
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 12th, 2009 at 8:14 am
It’s perfectly chili in Dallas – cold enough for long sleeves and sweaters but I don’t need a jacket. I am also enjoying the foods that go along with colder weather – especially the soups.
[Reply]
SnoWhite
posted on October 12, 2009 at 7:28 am
Oh, I can’t wait to try these!! I love beans … hubster does not. Maybe he’ll enjoy these?!?
[Reply]
Kari
posted on October 12, 2009 at 7:56 am
That White Bean Gratin sounds absolutely delish! I would love to make it and really love to have the dish to make it in:) I am a Le Creuset fan (well, who doesn’t love their stuff) and would be so excited to win it since I only have one little dish of theirs now!
[Reply]
Lindsay
posted on October 12, 2009 at 8:08 am
I want to try this tomorrow!
[Reply]
Alta
posted on October 12, 2009 at 8:23 am
Amy, I linked up my black bean brownies for this week. LOVE this white bean dish! Sounds so good. I kinda forget to give beans a chance in a dish such as this. Would LOVE it alongside roast chicken, a pork chop, heck…just about anything!
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 12th, 2009 at 8:31 am
I might just bring you around to my way of thinking – for $0.99 I got a bag of white beans. I used 1/3 of them in this and the rest I used in a white bean & kale soup with kielbasa. We always have fresh parmesan on hand but you can really use any kind of cheese you want.
This morning I had scrambled eggs and some left-over white bean gratin. Delicious and satisfying.
[Reply]
Kari
posted on October 12, 2009 at 8:24 am
I just twittered about your giveaway. I just started on twitter so I’m not sure how to post the link like some others have. But here’s what it said:)
Amy @ Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free is having a Le Creuset Giveaway: http://bit.ly/17VtES
[Reply]
Iris
posted on October 12, 2009 at 8:29 am
Ooh, mini gratin dishes! Yes please!
This week I linked to my raw pasta with tomato basil sauce. You can eat a heaping bowl without feeling that tired full feeling after.
Thanks for continuing to keep up with Slightly Indulgent Mondays, Amy! It’s one of my favorite blog carnivals!
[Reply]
Marci
posted on October 12, 2009 at 8:55 am
This sounds great. I’m looking forward to trying to get more beans into our diet and this doesn’t look like a “bean” dish. Thanks!
[Reply]
Liz@HoosierHomemade
posted on October 12, 2009 at 9:13 am
That looks great! And I love the little dishes, how cute! They make food more fun!
Thanks for sharing!
~Liz
[Reply]
Kim, The Food Allergy Coach
posted on October 12, 2009 at 9:25 am
These Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies are gluten and refined sugar free – sweetened only with apple juice concentrate (depending on what you use for chips). Using quinoa flour adds protein and other important nutrients, while the chocolate chips just make them plain good!
[Reply]
Barbara
posted on October 12, 2009 at 9:54 am
Oh, Amy,
Thanks for coming through with these autumn dishes. I can almost taste the gratin now and to eat it out of a gratin dish from you would be so special!
Barbara
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 12th, 2009 at 10:02 am
You are so welcome. Just a little head’s up…I’m hosting a Holiday Food Fest on Thursdays in Nov. & Dec (excluding holidays….) so we will have lots of fall and holiday dishes to share!
[Reply]
Celiacs in the House
posted on October 12, 2009 at 10:02 am
I bought some of those individual gratins when I took a GF cooking class at Sur La Table last spring. I just remembered them when I was rooting around for my pie plate for pumpkin pie. Now I have a great recipe to try in them. Thanks Amy.
Wendy
[Reply]
Liz@HoosierHomemade
posted on October 12, 2009 at 11:59 am
Well, it took me a bit, but the Apple Butter is finally posted.
Thanks for hosting!
~Liz
[Reply]
Lauren
posted on October 12, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Okay – Yum! These look amazing, and those dishes… Love it!
[Reply]
Lauren
posted on October 12, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Ooops, I forgot to say that I also linked to you on my blog. If only I had twitter… Nope. I’d never be off the computer.
[Reply]
Sophie
posted on October 12, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I am so sorry I haven’t been able to get involved! I know I wanted to, but lately my diet has been more indulgent than slightly indulgent
.
[Reply]
Kristen
posted on October 12, 2009 at 1:10 pm
What a great idea for beans. I am going to have to try this soon. I am always looking for new tasty sides and this is perfect. Thanks.
[Reply]
jen
posted on October 12, 2009 at 3:34 pm
just RTed
[Reply]
Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen
posted on October 12, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I love those beans, Amy, I agree, white beans are so yummy, and versatile. I love their creamy texture.
[Reply]
Sandy Gillett
posted on October 12, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I am enjoying all the recipes coming in from the different blogs. I am way behind in trying everything I’m printing off. This side dish sounds really good and could actually be a main dish with a large green salad. I can relate to Trish’s comments regarding healing and the part food, cooking and baking has in the healing process. It’s much bigger than we think sometimes. Thank you Amy!
[Reply]
Jamie @ Six Bricks High
posted on October 12, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I’m so glad I have found your blog! I have a daughter with food allergies and I’m having trouble learning to make things that she can eat. I’ll be browsing your blog…checking out the recipes.
[Reply]
Trish
posted on October 12, 2009 at 8:44 pm
I totally want the bean gratin for dinner! It looks so great. And mini-gratin dishes, yes please! It’s so fun participating, Amy, and thanks for featuring me
[Reply]
Tiffany S.
posted on October 13, 2009 at 9:10 am
I can’t wait to make this dish! My favorite soup has white beans in it – have to make that too now that the temps have dropped. Hope to win the l’il Creusets!
[Reply]
Jenn @ FFP
posted on October 13, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Hubby would love the White Bean Gratin! He’s a bean eater for sure! Thanks for giving me a new recipe to try!!!
[Reply]
Darcy
posted on October 13, 2009 at 1:18 pm
I love autumn recipes! I just linked a grain free ‘harvest loaf’ that I concocted last week. Cheers!
[Reply]
Sara @ sara's teset kitchen
posted on October 13, 2009 at 2:11 pm
These look delicious. The food looks yummy too
The muffiins look so moist, I don’t believe it!
[Reply]
Jennifer R.
posted on October 13, 2009 at 2:36 pm
This looks awesome! Would love to win the dishes!
thanks,
Jennifer
[Reply]
Sarah @ Oakbriar Farm
posted on October 13, 2009 at 7:36 pm
This recipe looks great! :mouth is watering:
And I love Le Creuset dishes! What a great giveaway!
[Reply]
Sandy Gillett
posted on October 14, 2009 at 12:24 am
I found a blog post of mine that I wrote in Sept. I linked to your site in the post but I never posted it. It’s posted now. I want you to know how grateful I am for all you are doing to help me and others like me in my quest to eat right so I can stay healthy and keep feeling good. Besides that it’s fun! Thank you Amy!
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Thanks, Sandy. You are a gem – and you always have a neat spin on food that I don’t think of. I like that your always adding to the conversation here and making me think.
[Reply]
Denise
posted on October 15, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Love white beans!! I make a really yummy white bean chicken chili, but have yet to blog about it. In fact I just made it last night but without the chicken.
I’ve been wanting to try the white beans as a baked bean dish (with molasses and such).
[Reply]
Arielle
posted on October 16, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I am so happy to have found this site on my search for gluten free baked goods! You’re my hero at this moment
I can’t wait to make this gratin!
[Reply]
Amy
posted on October 16, 2009 at 10:39 pm
@Arielle, I’m glad you found me, too. The gratin is really good – I even ate it for breakfast with eggs. Thanks for stopping by & come back soon.
Hugs,
Amy
[Reply]
Rachel Koepke
posted on October 17, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Cute dishes! We’ve been using more beans lately to add more protein and save $ on groceries. Thanks for all the great recipes!
[Reply]
Alison
posted on October 18, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I twittered the post.
[Reply]
Alison
posted on October 18, 2009 at 7:57 pm
I linked my post on here.
[Reply]
Alison
posted on October 18, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I have been off gluten for about a month and really enjoy your blog!
[Reply]
Chaya
posted on October 18, 2009 at 11:09 pm
I have your badge on both my blogs now and I happy to have them there.
Do you really make quinoa that often. Since I have started blogging, I hardly make rice.
I am getting to enjoy beans a lot more so this should prove to be an interesting dish. Thanks for posting it.
[Reply]
Amy
posted on October 19, 2009 at 8:36 am
@Chaya, Thanks so much for putting my badges on both your blogs.
I love quinoa – so does my husband. We have it once a week, sometimes less now that we are getting more root veggies in our CSA shares. I have a great oven-baked brown rice recipe you might like – it takes no effort at all and always comes out perfectly.
[Reply]
niki
posted on October 29, 2009 at 9:51 am
That gratin looks simply fab!
Yummers, I love bean dishes.
[Reply]
Coach Handbags
posted on November 6, 2009 at 6:43 am
These are some great tips.
[Reply]