You Have to try this fantastic Cranberry Bean Recipe with Merguez! Sausage and beans are a no brainer, but what about making the sauce with the merguez?
Here is a recipe that is so simple but packs a big punch. To me fresh beans in the summer are wonderful. The broth of the bean can add so much flavor to a dish. In this case I had two different beans but cooked in the same way each with a slightly different flavor profile.
I like to cook my fresh beans in two separate all clad place one bean with all of its ingredients and the other beans and its ingredients and place on top of the stove on medium high heat. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a light simmer and cover.
Instead of adding the usual bacon to the beans I decided to make a sauce out of lamb merguez. This was a dish I serve in a 6 course dinner this summer who Frans Drescher and few other friends. This was one that I thought was really fun but delicious. Here is the sausage and beans recipe I hope you enjoy it!
Summer Shelling Beans with Merguez Aioli
White Italian Bean
- 1 1/2 cup white Italian bean (fresh (if dried cooking time will be longer))
- 5 cup water
- 1 onion (charred)
- 1 sprig thyme (any bay leaf)
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tsp salt
Cranberry Beans
- 1 1/2 cup cranberry beans (fresh (if dried cooking time will be longer))
- 5 cup water
- 1 onion (charred)
- 1 sprig thyme (and bay leaf)
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tsp salt
Merguez Aioli
- 1 lb lamb merguez
- 1 roasted red pepper
- 1 cup aioli (or mayo)
- Sriracha (to taste(for more spice))
Leeks
- 1 large leek (small diced)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- chives to garnish
For the Beans
-
In two separate pots place one bean with all of its ingredients and the other beans and its ingredients and place on top of the stove on medium high heat. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a light simmer and cover. Cook for 20-25 or so minutes until the beans are tender and cook through. Set aside to cool.
For the Merguez aioli
-
In a small saute pan add merguez sausage without its casing and red pepper. Cook for 10 minutes until sausage is cooked (if you feel like the merguez doesn't have enough spice you can add a little berber spice or harrisa to the pan.
Once completely cooked turn off the heat. In a vitamix add mayo and 1 cup of the meat and pepper mixture. Puree until smooth. if you have a lot of fat from rendering the meat pour that into aioli as well. Add a touch of sriracha if a little more spice is needed. Season with salt and pour into a squirt bottle and set aside.
To finish
-
In a sauté pan add olive oil, butter, leeks, and some salt. Cook for 5 minutes without browning until the leeks become tender. Then add a cup of each bean and a little of its cooking liquid to the leeks.
Cook for 2-3 minutes to make sure the beans are hot and the leeks are tender. Adjust seasoning if need be. Then spoon in the bean mixture into a bowl. Take the aioli and drizzle around and on top of the beans. Finish with chives, serve and and enjoy!
