Fennel, White Bean, and Collard Green Sauté

4 servings

This lovely, appetizing dish is easy to prepare. Boiling the fennel stalks and greens in water until the liquid becomes concentrated, is a marvelous way to make your own aromatic consommé in one simple step. Serve this nourishing dish with wild rice or crusty whole-grain bread.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole fennel bulb, stalks and greens included
• 6 cups water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
•  2 cups navy or cannellini beans, precooked
• 3 cups collard greens, stems removed, sliced into thin ribbons
• 2 cloves garlic; or 1 teaspoon powdered or granulated garlic
• 1 teaspoon salt
• juice of 1/2 lemon (1-2 tsps. to taste)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning blend

To make consommé:

Remove stalks and greens from fennel bulb, rinse thoroughly, and add them to a large saucepan with 6 cups of water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, cover, and cook down for about 30 minutes. In the meantime, chop fennel bulb into inch-long, very thin slices.

When consommé is reduced to 2 to 3 cups, remove from heat, and pour the consommé liquid only into a glass jar. Set aside. Toss out the remaining cooked fennel.

Add olive oil to the saucepan, and return to medium heat. Add chopped fennel and sauté over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Add ¼ cup of consommé and simmer on medium-low for 5 more minutes, then repeat. Add ¼ cup more consommé, collard greens, and remaining seasonings and cook for 5 to 8 minutes longer, until greens are tender. Stir in beans and serve warm or hot. Label, date, and store remaining consommé in the fridge for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.