Fagioli all'italiana

Italian Style Beans



I saw these beautiful borlotti beans at the fruit and veg shop today, perfect for this rustic Italian dish.

Ingredients

500g podded fresh beans
1 potato, peeled
2 ripe tomatoes, cut in half
3-4 cloves of garlic, bruised
fresh herbs - rosemary, bay, sage, thyme
drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
sea salt and black pepper

Method

Place beans and all the other ingredients except salt and pepper in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain the beans of any left over liquid and season with salt and pepper and a little more olive oil. You can take the vegetables and herbs out if you like but I like to leave them in. If you just bruise the garlic but leave the skin on they become quite sweet and mellow.