Braised white beans

• dried white bean↗500g g

  (haricot or cannellini), soaked overnight

• onions↗2
• carrots↗3
• celery↗2

  sticks

• garlic cloves↗3
• bouquet garni1

  (I used 2 sprigs each parsley, rosemary and thyme, plus a bay leaf)

• butter↗25g g
• olive oil↗2 tbsp tbsp
• tomatoes↗3

  skinned and chopped

• chopped parsley

  to serve

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Rinse the beans and put in a large pan with 1 onion, 1 carrot and 1 celery stick, all halved, 1 unpeeled garlic clove and the bouquet garni. Cover with water, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 30-45 mins, until the beans are almost tender but holding their shape.

2. 2

   Meanwhile, chop the remaining onion, carrots and celery stick. Peel and finely chop the remaining garlic. Heat the butter and oil in a large pan, add the vegetables and gently fry for 10 mins until lightly coloured.

3. 3

   Drain the beans, reserving the cooking liquid. Fish out and discard the whole vegetables and bouquet garni. Add the beans to the pan of vegetables with the tomatoes and sufficient reserved cooking liquid to just cover them. Top up with boiling water if necessary. Add plenty of salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for about 30 mins until the beans and vegetables are tender, then scatter with parsley, to serve.