Add to parsley mixture, tossing to coat (
save bean cooking liquid to make soup or add to your next batch of beans; it freezes well).
Place white beans and leek and kale mixture in a food processor or blender and puree until fairly smooth, adding very small splashes of the white
bean cooking liquid if the mixture is too thick.
Process until smooth, adding some of the reserved
bean cooking liquid as you go to achieve a smooth consistency.
There's no stock in this wintry vegetarian stew recipe — it relies on the
starchy bean cooking liquid for its flavor (which is a polite way of saying sorry, but you can't use canned beans here and get the same results).
Remember to reserve
some bean cooking liquid!
Another important addition to
bean cooking liquid is kombu, which is a mineral - rich seaweed.
Drain the beans over a colander placed over a bowl or pot, saving
the bean cooking liquid for later (we'll be using it as a veggie broth in a bunch of dishes in this meal plan).
I used dried beans and
some bean cooking liquid.
Using a potato masher mash 1 cup of the beans in a bowl with 1/2 cup of
the bean cooking liquid or the liquid from the can if you are using canned beans.
Add tomatoes, crushing with your hands as you go, then herb bundle, Parmesan rind, if using, and 6 cups water or reserved
bean cooking liquid, or a combination.
Luckily, as you may know, aquafaba (
bean cooking liquid) has transformed vegan cooking and baking, with its protein and starch content making an excellent stand - in for eggs in some applications.
Add squash and 6 cups of liquid (reserved
bean cooking liquid plus additional broth if necessary.)
I haven't gotten around to trying them with aquafaba (
bean cooking liquid) yet but I think using aquafaba in place of the water when creating the flax egg, might help.
Those people who tell you to toss
your bean cooking liquid?
I especially love that there's an emphasis on using up every part of something - in this recipe you use the herb stems and
bean cooking liquid - for an extremely sustainable and delicious dish.