I haven’t always had access to fresh beans. What a pity because fresh beans cook up faster and creamier. The borlotti bean is a relative of the kidney bean, but you wouldn’t think it. The kidney is the “bush baby”(John Deere) of beans; big, red and offensive in a chili. Sorry to anyone who makes this kind of chili. 🙂 Really. Mea culpa 🙂
Then you have the fresh borlotti bean, rival to the mogettes of Vendee (can’t wait until it’s the season), a gourmet queen of a bean that can hold it’s own with the elegant duck breast. It’s a shame, but I didn’t get any pictures of the finished beans in a pretty bowl because I was preparing lunch, food for the block party and getting my hair done at the same time. I had decided to use the recipe I found in this month’s Saveurs but as I was preparing the beans, I took issue. No onion, no garlic, no bay leaf! Not possible! Taking matters into my own hands, I sauteed some onion and garlic but then realized that the rosemary called for would elevate these beans to an eminence far beyond my rustic bay leaf. Rosemary, garlic and onion, yes. I’m making these beans again, with pictures, in a pretty bowl!
Duck Breast with Fresh Borlotti Beans
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 inch fresh ginger, chopped
1 garlic clove chopped
1/2 cup soy sauce
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 duck breast, fat scored in a diamond pattern
1/2 onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups of fresh borlotti beans, shelled
3 cups of chicken broth
2 tops of fresh rosemary sprigs
Salt and pepper
Mix the brown sugar, ginger, garlic, soy sauce and lemon juice together, then pour over the duck breast and set aside.
Saute the onion and garlic in the olive oil. Add the beans, broth, rosemary sprigs, salt and pepper. Cook for 40 minutes.
Sear the duck breast in a hot, pretty, cast iron skillet like Frugal’s, about 4 minutes per side. Serve with the beans.
Wine suggestion: Bourgogne Aligote
I LOVE beans SO much. I could eat them all day. You know, Rosemary, I’ve only ever seen you cook duck to perfection. I’m glad you’re not one of these people who cremate it.
But fresh beans are soooo nice! I’m a recent convert and the best fresh beans I’ve had was at Roger’s house. Perfect! I’m never going to overcook duck breast. I’m trying not to waste money 🙂
Indeed – they are hard to come by here too. That’s good – it would be a most un-frugal move.
This looks incredible. I can’t really get hold of fresh beans, other than runners and broad beans from my in-laws’ allotment. Definitely something to keep an eye out for.
Thank you lawyer.
Lovely duck breast Sens!
Nice to see it not overdone. As always, great photos.
Thank you Spoon.
That’s perfect duck! I love all beans – even the kidney variety 😉
I don’t know why I’ve never really cared for kidney beans. Maybe not creamy and violently red.
To me it brings a bit of colour to brown food and I like the passion in violent red 😉
Fresh Borlotti are fabulous, we dont see them in the shops here, but then I grow ours, just planted this years batch out. And yes to garlic, rosemary, bay leaf etc – a real meaty bean! And now I’m curious about the mogettes of Vendee ?!
The mogettes should be in season this month or next. It’s fantastic that you plant your own!
Those beans look amazing. I don’t recall seeing them around here, but I can dream!
Thank you Greg. I don’t remember them in the States either but maybe you could find them at a Farmer’s market.
I’m glad you took matters into your own hands! The dish looks absolutely amazing. You are a pro at duck!
And at perfectly cooked beans too. Fresh borlotti beans are so pretty!
Thank you Daisy. Sometimes you just have to say no to dull, uninteresting recipes 🙂
So true!
Even though I put kidney beans in my chili, I still have enough good taste to recognize a gorgeous plate. 🙂
Hi Anna. Thank you and don’t pay too much attention to me. I’ll say anything 🙂 Mad Dog is also a fan of the kidney bean and I’m sure many others.
Aren’t Borlotti beans fantastic looking. I once did a shot for Habitat which was to include Borlotti beans. There were none to be had, so the art director hand painted ordinary haricots – pods and all:)
Excellent story!
Incredible!
I have no idea whether I would enjoy eating these beans, but I love looking at the scarlet pods and the speckles in your photo.
Well kale, of course you don’t know. You’ll have to try them. I like the way they look also.
That duck breasts looks perfectly cooked, so drooling over it
Thank you rs. Now that it’s the cherry season, I’m wondering how the duck breasts would be with a fresh cherry sauce 🙂
Great recipe and wonderful pictures!
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Thanks for directing me here! I love this post, and the story. I agree with you on the kidney beans! And I never put them in my chili – for one, they don’t become meltingly tender and one with the group, sharing the flavor and the texture like other beans do. They’re like that one smart alec in a group that always just has to be upfront and center, sucking up all the attention!