Great Northern Beans in Tomato and Garlic Sauce

Ingredients

• Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed (24 ounces/700 mL)
• olive oil (3 tablespoons)
• garlic cloves, crushed or minced (5 to 6)
• rosemary, crushed (1/2 to 1 teaspoon)
• thick tomato purée (2 cups)
• tomatoes, coarsely chopped (3 peeled)
• salt (1 teaspoon)
• lemon juice (1/4 cup)
• sugar (1 teaspoon)
• minced onion (3 tablespoons)

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a very large skillet.
2. Sauté the garlic and rosemary in it for a few minutes.
3. Add the tomato purée, chopped tomatoes, salt, lemon juice, sugar, and a generous amount of black pepper.
4. Simmer the sauce, stirring often, for about 15 minutes.
5. Add the beans and continue simmering, stirring now and then with a wooden spoon, for another 5 to 10 minutes.
6. The sauce should be quite thick.
7. If you want to serve the beans hot, stir in the minced onions shortly before serving.
8. If you want to serve them cold, as a salad, allow them to cool before stirring in the minced onions and chill them for a few hours or overnight – the flavor improves.