Utica Greens and Beans

Why greens and beans on New Year's Day, you may ask? Because, as any scientist will tell you, if you eat 'poor' on the first day of the year, you will enjoy incredible financial prosperity the rest of the year! The original Utica greens do not have beans but they are such a classic combination.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 307 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons fine bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed
• ½ cup fine bread crumbs
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes, or to taste
• ½ cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 4 ounces pancetta bacon, diced
• 2 heads escarole, bottoms trimmed and leaves coarsely sliced
• 2 tablespoons chopped jalapeno pepper, or to taste
• 1 (12 ounce) can cooked cranberry beans

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.

Step 2

Wash escarole leaves in a large bowl in several changes of cold water until no grit remains.

Step 3

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; cook escarole in the boiling water until bright green and slightly wilted, about 2 minutes. Transfer escarole to a large bowl using a slotted spoon. Rinse greens in cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain thoroughly.

Step 4

Place pancetta and olive oil into a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat; cook until browned and crisp in spots, about 5 minutes. Stir jalapeno peppers into pancetta; cook and stir until peppers start to soften, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more.

Step 5

Pour chicken broth over pancetta mixture, bring to a simmer, and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Gently stir beans into skillet. Mix escarole into mixture, turn off heat, and top with 1/2 cup bread crumbs. Stir until crumbs are still visible but most are incorporated. Season with red pepper flakes. Top with 2 tablespoons bread crumbs followed by Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese; drizzle top with 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Step 6

Place skillet under broiler and cook until top is golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Serve immediately.