BEANS IN ANCHOVY SAUCE

  Time: 45 minutes
  Difficulty: moderate
  Serves: 6


  INGREDIENTS

  • 1 carrot, finely chopped

  • 3 small or one medium-large shallot, finely chopped

  • 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced

  • 1 clove of garlic

  • 4 anchovies

  • ½ spicy sausage of choice, chopped

  • 125 ml pureed tomatoes (passata)

  • parsley, chopped

  • a little vinegar

  • 2 bay leaves

  • extra virgin olive oil

  • 400 g canned butter beans or borlotti

  • a little water or stock, as needed

  • salt and pepper, to taste


METHOD

Lightly sauté the carrot, shallot, celery, garlic in a little olive oil until the vegetables soften. Add the anchovies and let them melt into the vegetables, as they cook, and fall apart (when the garlic is golden you may remove it, but it is not necessary; it may be kept in).

Add the sausage, crumbled, and brown a little bit, then sprinkle in a shake or two of vinegar, and cook until it evaporates.

Add the tomato passata, the beans and parsley; season with salt and pepper. Simmer gently for 20 minutes.

This dish is best made ahead and left to rest for several hours before serving.