White Beans with Escarole

• Recipe by Maria Helm Sinskey

"I cribbed this salad from my grandmother Nonna," says Sinskey. "She’d toss leftover beans with greens and lemon juice." This version has toasted croutons; the lemon juice is mixed into a refreshing dressing.

Ingredients

1. 1 tablespoon minced shallot
2. 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
3. 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
4. Pinch of sugar
5. Salt and freshly ground pepper
6. 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
7. Two 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
8. 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
9. Two 1-inch-thick slices of peasant bread, torn into 1/2-inch pieces (2 cups), toasted
10. 1/2 pound pancetta, sliced 1/4 inch thick and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
11. Two 1-pound heads of escarole, tough dark leaves discarded, inner leaves torn into bite-size pieces

Directions

1. In a bowl, combine the shallot, lemon zest, lemon juice and sugar. Season with salt and pepper; let sit for 10 minutes. Whisk in 6 tablespoons of the oil. Transfer 1/4 cup of the dressing to a bowl, add the beans and parsley and let stand for 30 minutes.
2. In a skillet, cook the pancetta over moderate heat, stirring, until crisp, about 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to a plate. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in the skillet, then stir in the toasted bread and toss to coat.
3. Add the bread to the beans with the escarole and remaining dressing. Season with salt and pepper, toss and serve. make ahead The salad can be prepared through Step 2 up to 4 hours ahead.