Cranberry Bean and Mixed-Herb Salad

Ingredients

• 7 pounds fresh cranberry beans
• shelled (about 7 cups)
• or 1 1/2 pounds dried beans (4 cups)
• 1 small onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 thyme sprigs plus 1 teaspoon finely chopped
• Salt
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped sage
• 1 bunch of scallions
• thinly sliced
• Freshly ground pepper

Instructions

1. If using dried cranberry beans, cover them with water and let soak overnight; drain.
2. In a pot, cover the fresh or soaked dried beans with 2 inches of cold water and bring to a boil.
3. Skim the beans and add the onion, garlic, bay leaf and thyme sprigs, then simmer over moderate heat until the beans are just tender, about 40 minutes for fresh and 1 hour for dried.
4. Add 2 tablespoons of salt to the beans and cook for 5 minutes longer.
5. Drain the beans and discard the onion, garlic, thyme sprigs and bay leaf.
6. Stir in the olive oil, vinegar, parsley, sage, chopped thyme and sliced scallions.
7. Season with salt and pepper and serve.