Recipes
How to Cook Beans in the Rancho Gordo Manner
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There is not one single method of cooking beans. At its most basic, you want to simmer the pot until the beans are soft. Soaking can speed up the process and vegetables or stock will make them more flavorful. It's really that simple. There's all kinds of fine tuning and variables, but basically, this is it. Normally on a bean cooking day (which frankly is everyday at Rancho Gordo), I put the beans to soak in the morning, after rinsing in lots of cool water and checking for small debris. I cover the beans by about an inch or so...
Arugula and Bean Salad with Pumpkin Seeds
Gluten-Free Salads Side Dishes Vegetarian White Beans
4 cups wild arugula 2 cups drained cooked Rancho Gordo white beans, such as Ayocote Blanco, Cassoulet or Royal Corona beans 1 teaspoon Rancho Gordo Oregano Indio Olive oil Rancho Gordo Pineapple Vinegar (or other mild vinegar) Salt and freshly ground black pepper ½ cup pumpkin seeds, toasted Serve 2 to...
Bludso's BBQ Red Beans and Rice
Dark Beans Main Dishes Omnivore
Our staff test kitchen tried a new version of Red Beans and Rice from the recent book, Bludso's BBQ Cookbook (Ten Speed Press, 2022). They'd made it with our Domingo Rojo beans and author Kevin Bludso's recipe. I am always happy to try a bean dish but I knew...
Molletes (Open-Faced Mexican Sandwiches with Refried Beans)
Dark Beans Main Dishes Medium Beans Omnivore Vegetarian
These open-faced sandwiches are a favorite Mexican comfort food. You can vary the type of bread, cheese, and toppings, but you'll want to use homemade refried beans if possible for this dish to really shine. 2 bolillo Mexican bread rolls (can substitute French bread or ciabatta) ½ to 1 cup refried...
Todd Humphries' Polenta Gnocchi in Browned Sage Butter
Holiday Main Dishes Omnivore Polenta Vegetarian
We're so proud to have our polenta, grown, milled, and ground by our friends at Anson Mills. To celebrate, we asked our friend, Chef Todd Humphries of Kitchen Door here in Napa, to help us out with a twist on traditional potato gnocchi. We've even made a video so you can...
Bean, Sausage, and Root Vegetable Stew
Main Dishes Omnivore Rancho Gordo Soup of the Day sotd soup of the day soups Soups & Stews White Beans
This hearty stew, based on a recipe by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, is comfort in a bowl. You can use any root vegetables you have on hand. When we tried out the recipe in the Rancho Gordo test kitchen, someone remarked that a scoop of cooked wild rice would also be a...
Garlic-Rubbed Beans on Toast
Omnivore Side Dishes Snacks & Appetizers White Beans
On a trip to Sorana, just outside of Lucca, I met with some bean growers and learned more about the sorana bean that Marcella Hazan loved. I had one of those perfect Italian lunches that started with the beans served on very well-saturated-with-olive-oil toast and topped with a thin slice of...
Provencal Tuna, White Bean, and Celery Salad
Omnivore Pescatarian Salads Side Dishes White Beans
This French-style salad comes from our friend and favorite Francophile, Georgeanne Brennan. She says: “Creamy white beans combined with flaky bits of fish and crunchy celery makes an appetizing first course or small plate. Tarragon, one of the classic fines herbes, doubles its flavor here, first in the vinaigrette and...
Chopped Salad with Bean-and-Yogurt Dressing
Holiday Omnivore Salads Vegetarian White Beans
Martha Rose Shulman’s genius Caesar salad dressing made with beans and yogurt got us thinking about bean-based dressings. We experimented and came up with this version, using our pineapple vinegar. For the dressing: 1 garlic clove, halved ½ cup cooked, drained white beans, such as Alubia Blanca or Marcella ½ cup...
Creamy White Bean, Olive, and Goat Cheese Spread
Omnivore Side Dishes Snacks & Appetizers Vegetarian White Beans
A unique mixture of beans, goat cheese, and olives that can be used as a dip with bread or crackers, as a spread, or even as a topping for roasted vegetables. There are endless variations on white bean puree. Use capers instead of olives, or thyme instead of rosemary. Add...
Avocado and White Bean Salsa
Appetizers Omnivore Salads Side Dishes Vegetarian White Beans
A unique salsa bursting with flavor and color. What's not to love? Any white bean would work here (black beans would be good, too!). Serve it with chips for dipping, or with grilled seafood for a main course. 1 cup cooked, drained Rancho Gordo Alubia Blanca beans, or other white beans...
Minestrone with White Beans and Savoy Cabbage
Main Dishes Medium Beans Omnivore Rancho Gordo Soup of the Day sotd soup of the day soups Soups & Stews Vegetarian White Beans
Marcella Hazan’s Minestrone alla Romagnola is a classic. We streamlined it a little, and also tried it in a slow cooker with great results (see note, below). Your bag of Rancho Gordo Marcella cannellini beans will feel right at home among all the fresh vegetables. 1 tablespoon plus ¼ cup...
Golden Pan-Fried Big White Beans with Wilted Greens
chiles Omnivore Salads Vegetarian White Beans
Yotam Ottolenghi’s seminal cookbook, Plenty, includes a recipe for fried lima beans served with a tangle of wilted greens and soft cheese. Here is our take on that recipe. Of course, we recommend a little Stardust as the finishing touch, but you could also use chile powder or sumac. 3 to...