WHITE BEAN PURéE WITH GARLIC VINAIGRETTE AND CROUTES

White Bean Purée with Garlic Vinaigrette and Croutes image

Yield Makes 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

For dressing
2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
For bean purée
1/2 pound dried small white beans such as navy or pea
1 fresh thyme sprig
2 slices firm white sandwich bread, crusts removed
1/3 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Accompaniment: toasted baguette slices (croûtes)
Special Equipment
a food mill fitted with large-holed disk

Steps:

Make dressing:
Blanch garlic in a small saucepan of boiling water 3 minutes, then drain and finely chop. Transfer garlic to a bowl and whisk in mustard and vinegar. Add 3 tablespoons oil in a stream, whisking until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.
Make bean purée:
Soak beans in water to cover by 2 inches in a large bowl at least 8 hours, then drain. Simmer beans with thyme in fresh water to cover by 2 inches in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan, partially covered, until very tender, about 1 1/4 hours (some beans will fall apart). Reserve 1 cup cooking liquid and drain beans, discarding thyme.
Crumble bread into a large bowl and stir in cream. Force beans through food mill into moistened bread, then stir in oil. Add reserved cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time for a spreadable consistency. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Serve warm with vinaigrette spooned over purée.