Warm White Bean and Bread Salad. Picture: Tom McCorkle for The Washington Post
Deciding what to make for dinner is as much about the time and energy one can muster as it is about the ingredients on hand. That’s why Yasmin Fahr’s gorgeous new cookbook, "Cook Simply, Live Fully: Flexible, Flavorful recipes for Any Mood,” is divided into chapters based on levels of motivation to cook.
For "when you’re dead tired, don’t want to chop a thing, and are about to open that delivery app,” she offers a section of creative "lap dinners,” meant to easily scale down to serve one, and eat on the sofa while bingeing a favorite TV show. While I personally prefer to eat at a table, the whole chapter speaks to me. This recipe from the book is just one example of how little effort it can take to turn the most ordinary ingredients into a truly enticing meal.
It involves elements I nearly always have on hand, so common they might induce a yawn at first glance - a can of beans, some crusty bread, arugula. But culinary magic happens here when the bread is torn into craggy, bite-size pieces and toasted in olive oil, giving it a golden, crisp luxuriousness.
Next, the beans join the bread in the pan, where they warm through, and get seasoned with salt and crushed red pepper flakes. That warm, soft-and-crunchy duo is then tossed with a dressing of olive oil, lemon and mustard, absorbing the punchy flavors. A couple of handfuls of arugula join the party, and, voilà - dinner is ready.
It’s a meal that provides all the satisfaction and nourishment you could wish for, with no chopping required, and you can have it on the table - or your lap - in about 15 minutes.
Warm White Bean and Bread Salad
Total time: 15 minutes
Serves 2 (makes about 5 cups)
With golden, crunchy bites of bread, warm white beans and fresh arugula in a lemon-mustard dressing, this salad proves how little effort it can take to turn the most ordinary ingredients into a truly enticing meal. It provides all the satisfaction and nourishment you could wish for, and it’s ready in about 15 minutes.
Storage: The salad is best eaten right away; refrigerate leftovers for up to 1 day.
INGREDIENTS
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 1/2 cups (3 ounces) torn crusty bread (from 2 thick slices or about 1/4 baguette)
One (15-ounce) can no-salt-added white beans, such as cannellini or navy, drained and rinsed (see Substitutions)
1/8 teaspoon fine salt, plus more to taste
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more to taste
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 cups (3 ounces) lightly packed baby arugula
DIRECTIONS
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil until shimmering. Add the bread and cook, turning the pieces occasionally, until toasted and browned in spots, about 3 minutes total. Add the beans, salt and crushed red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are warmed through, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, the lemon juice and mustard until combined. Add the bean mixture to the bowl, followed by the arugula, and toss to combine and coat with the dressing. Taste, season with additional lemon juice, red pepper and/or salt, if desired, and serve.
Substitutions
Gluten-free? Use gluten-free bread.
For arugula, use salad greens of your choice.
Instead of Dijon mustard, use any mustard you have.
You can use home-cooked white beans instead of canned.
Nutritional facts per serving (2 1/2 cups) | Calories: 505; Fat: 30 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 48 g; Sodium: 495 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Protein: 13 g; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 4 g
