Fresh Cranberry Beans with Olive Oil and Garlic

If you ever wondered how to cook cranberry beans and what to do with them, this recipe is perfect for you.  Found on the mayihavethatrecipe.com food blog, this dish is quick, simple, and super flavorful. Yields about 4 cups.

Ingredients:
2 lb fresh cranberry beans (about 4 cups shelled)
6 garlic cloves, whole
3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
2-4 cups water
3 bay leaves
½ teaspoon salt (more or less to taste)

Procedure:

1. Shell the cranberry beans, rinse and drain.
2. Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat.  Add the garlic and tilt the pan so all the oil goes to one side of the pan and the garlic cooks evenly.  Cook for about 2 minutes or until it starts to get a slight golden color (make sure it doesn’t burn!)
3. Add the red hot pepper flakes and thyme and cook for another 2 minutes.
4. Add the shelled beans, stirring well so the beans get evenly coated with the oil, and cook for 3 minutes.
5. Add 2 cups of water, bay leaves, and salt.  Bring to a boil for about 5 minutes, uncovered.
6. Turn down the heat and simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes or longer – continue until the beans are tender but not mushy.  You should have some cooking liquid remaining in the pot.  If the beans are not tender and there is little water left, keep adding water until they soften. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.  (Take into consideration that as the beans cook, the flavor and saltiness concentrates.  Do not oversalt!)
7. Mash the garlic cloves into the cooking liquid (They should be very tender and mash easily.) These are delicious eaten plain, served over rice or with crusty bread