Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

White Bean Stufato

Ingredients

3 cups diced onions

3 cups diced carrots

3 cups diced celery

1/4 cup bacon fat

1/2 cup white wine

1/2 cup diced ham

2 tsp Poultry Seasoning

2 tsp Italian Herb Blend

2 tsp Italian Seasoning Blend

1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 Tbsp kosher salt

2 tsp hot sauce

1 tsp ground white pepper

6 cans (15-ounce) navy beans, drained and rinsed

6 cups Pork Stock

1/4 cup Pesto

Instructions

Reserved hock meat from pork stock, chopped

In a stockpot, sauté the onion, carrot, and celery in the bacon fat for 5 to 7 minutes over medium heat, stirring frequently. Add the wine and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more. Add the ham, poultry season, herb blend, seasoning blend, Worcestershire, salt, hot sauce, and pepper and cook for 7 to 8 minutes.

Puree 1 can of the beans with 2 cups of the pork stock. Add the pureed beans, whole beans, and the remaining 4 cups pork stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and add the pesto and hock meat. Stir well and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes.

Yield: 1 gallon

Recent Recipes

Orange Crepes with Sugared Cranberries

I prefer fruit over chocolate after a meal. Orange and cranberries are a perfect pairing, especially during the holidays. This is an excellent and easy dessert after a heavy meal. These can be served individually on small plates or in a casserole for a buffet.

Read more

Grilled Tripletail with Lump Crab and Chive Beurre Blanc

Tripletail has always been my favorite Gulf fish. The old-timers used to say, "If you can see a tripletail, you can catch a tripletail." They have this peculiar habit of floating near the surface around buoys, crab traps, and other floating objects, often lying on their sides and appearing almost lifeless. This behavior makes them easy to spot and, if you're quick with your cast, easy to hook. The meat is mild, white, and flaky—perfect for grilling. Pairing it with lump crab and a chive beurre blanc elevates this dish to something truly special.

Read more

Potato Gratin

Potatoes are the one vegetable I could never give up. Fried, roasted, mashed, or scalloped—doesn’t matter, they’re always on the table in one form or another. This gratin is my favorite way to make them feel a little more special. It’s rich, creamy, and just decadent enough to make it feel like you’re putting in some extra effort. There’s a good bit of cheese in this recipe, but that’s exactly how it should be. The combination of sharp white Cheddar, gruyere, and Parmesan gives it the perfect balance of nuttiness, creaminess, and tang. And using Yukon gold potatoes instead of russets makes a big difference. They have just the right amount of starch to get creamy without getting mushy. This dish is a showstopper on the holiday table, but I’d eat it on a random Tuesday without hesitation.

Read more