Oven Sage and Garlic White Beans
No other bean cooking method yields such creamy beans as cooking them in the oven. These white beans are flavored with the classic, savory flavor combination of sage and garlic. You can add any other aromatics of choice in their place. Think onion, carrots, celery, hot peppers, spices, etc.
Oven Sage and Garlic White Beans
serves 6+
2 cups white beans, soaked overnight in plenty of water
4 garlic cloves
a handful of sage
sea salt
olive oil
Preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C). Strain and rinse the beans and add to a large pot. Cover the beans by about 2-3 fingers’ width of water. Add the garlic and sage. Add plenty of salt and a few glugs of olive oil.
Cover the pot and transfer to the oven. Let the beans cook for 1 1/2-2 hours, or longer if needed. The timing will depend on the kind of beans you use and their freshness. I find that it takes white beans at least 1 1/2 hours to cook through, but I usually check at the 1 hour mark (just to make sure that they aren’t overcooking). Once done, drizzle a bit more olive oil over the beans. Enjoy the beans as they are, topped with fresh herbs, or add them to all kinds of dishes.
Intuitive Cooking Takeaways
You can cook any beans using this method. Just adjust the cooking time according to the density of the beans. Chickpeas will take up to 4 hours to cook through, black beans - around 2 hours, and so on.
These beans can become the foundation for a whole week of dinners. When first out of the oven, enjoy the beans in their broth, topped with some herbs and lemon juice. Then add the beans to soups, salads, sauces, bowls, pasta, etc. to fill out your meals.