Fast White-Bean Stew

The other day, I walked into a morning meeting decidedly holiday'ed out. I had been up til the wee hours at some festive party or another and woke up feeling less than happy. Less than sober, even. And so, as soon as the meeting wrapped, I crossed the street into Dean & Deluca, that temple of fine foods and hot, fictional TV baristas in SoHo. Wandering around, trying to figure out what to make that could possibly make me feel (and look) human again, I found myself unconsciously gathering the ingredients for a quick white bean stew. I make variations of this simple soup all the time, and know the components by heart--a couple of cans of cannellini beans, a can of tomatoes, a dark leafy green, a meat of some sort.

When I got home, I set up shop in the kitchen right away, and half an hour later, I was happily slurping down a bowl of this hot, nourishing stew and feeling worlds better. That's the power of a good soup in the wintertime. Try it for yourself. I guarantee it'll chase any holiday hangovers away. xo

Fast White-Bean Stew
Adapted from Gourmet Quick Kitchen
Ingredients:
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 cup plus 1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 (14- to 15-oz) can whole peeled tomatoes
1 3/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 (19-oz) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (3 cups)
1 (1/2-lb) piece baked ham (1/2 inch to 3/4 inch thick), cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 (5-oz) bag baby romaine or baby arugula
Pinch of red pepper flakes. 

Directions:
Cook garlic in 1/4 cup oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy post over moderately high heat, stirring until golden, 1 to 2 minutes.

Coarsely cut up tomatoes in can with kitchen shears, then add (with juice) to garlic in oil. Stir in broth, beans, ham, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Stir in greens and cook until wilted, 3 minutes for romaine or 1 minute for arugula. Stir in a pinch of red pepper flakes to taste.

Serve hot with toasted baguette slices.