White Bean and Tomato Gratin

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs made from day-old French bread
• 1 ½ tablespoons fresh thyme
• 4 fresh large thyme sprigs
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 ½ pounds dried Great Northern beans
• 12 cups water
• 2 ¼ teaspoons salt
• + 5 more ingredients
• • ½ cup thinly sliced drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 141/2-ounce cans diced tomatoes in juice
  • 2 tablespoons grated lemon peel

Combine 12 cups water, beans, thyme sprigs, bay leaves, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in large pot. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until beans are tender, about 1 hour 45 minutes. Drain. Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Transfer beans to 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Add canned toma...

View full recipe at Epicurious