White Bean Salad with Fresh Fennel and Capers

4 1/2 c water
1 1/2 c dried white beans
5" strip kelp or kombu
1 fennel bulb
1 1/2 c sliced red or green pepper
1 c coarsely chopped zucchini
1/2 c coarsely chopped red radishes
1/4 c capers
1/2 c orange juice
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tspn grated orange zest
1 tspn ground cumin
1 tspn white wine vinegar (opt)

 Bring the water, beans, and kombu to boil in a 2-qt stockpot. Reduce the heat to med low and simmer covered or 1.5 hrs or until beans are tender. Drain and set aside to cool.
Discard fronds and stalk from fennel, peel away touch outer leaves. Cut the bulb in half, then slice the halves into thin strips.
Combine the beans, fennel, pepper, zucchini, radishes, and capers in a large bowl.
In a small bowl whisk together the orange juice, oil, balsamic, zest, cumin, and vinegar until well combined. Drizzle over the salad ingredients and toss.
Serve immediately

This is from Going Wild in the Kitchen from our shareholder Leslie Cerier - available in the Farm Shop.