Cannellini Beans with Garlic and Rosemary

Healthy Cannellini Bean Recipe, Low Cal Low Fat Low Carb Easter Side Dish, Moderating Glycemic Load, Vegan recipe, Vegetarian recipe

Ben Gebo Photography

[donotprint]STRATEGY SESSION: Beans are naturally low in fat and they have a low glycemic index. However, they're high carb-density foods (grams of carbohydrate per unit volume). The key to moderating their contribution to the glycemic load of any meal is to pair them with proteins and low-density carbs. I often serve them with broiled lamb chops with a pipérade. Well-trimmed loin lamb chops supply plenty of lean protein; the pipérade contains low-density onions and peppers which bring down the GL of the meal.

There’s nothing new about the trio of cannellini beans, garlic, and rosemary, but when something’s this good (and easy and cheap), it doesn’t have to be cutting edge. I’ve tried other aromatics and other herbs, but I always come back to this combination. It’s fantastic with pork and lamb--which the whole world is cooking this week. And, of course, it’s included in Trufflehead, which also contains the lamb chops with the pipérade referenced above. One of its nicest features is the ease with which leftovers are transformed into a soup. Look in your vegetable crisper. If you find a carrot and a celery rib, chop them and throw them in. You can add that can of diced tomatoes that’s been sitting in your pantry. If you’re willing to make an effort, you can clean and chop a head of escarole. I’d be satisfied with that and a sprinkling of Parmesan, but you can go whole hog (!) and add some reduced-fat sausage. The dish can be made with canned beans, and I even wrote the recipe that way for Trufflehead; but--if you really want to be happy with the result, you’ll cook your own. Serving suggestions: I love these beans with broiled or grilled lamb chops, a roast leg of lamb, grilled or pan-roasted pork chops, or a roasted pork tenderloin. [/donotprint]