How To Cook Beans

Use Great Northerns, navy beans, or cannellinis. Under running water, pick over and discard any broken or discolored beans (or stones), and then soak the beans. One way to soak beans is to cover them with water and let them rest overnight (or at least eight hours). A faster way is to bring the beans and water to a boil and cook them for two minutes and remove the pan from the heat. Cover the pan and let it rest for one hour. Whichever method you choose, after the initial soak, drain the beans and cover them with fresh water. Bring to a boil and immediately turn down the flame to a simmer, cooking the beans slowly until they become tender, around 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or longer. Keep the water at a simmer, not a boil, to prevent the skins from splitting and the beans disintegrating. When beans are cooked, toss with a little extra virgin olive oil, season with salt, pepper, freshly chopped sage or whatever else you may have on hand.