Consider the possibility that the recipe may be badly written.

In the headnote:

"If you can find them, use fresh beans such as cranberry (borlottti) beans or fava beans (which have to be peeled twice), but if you're using dried beans, use borlotti, Great Northern, or white kidney beans (cannellini)."

In the ingredient list:

"1 cup dried beans such as borlotti, Great Northern, or cannellini, rinsed and soaked in 1 quart cold water for 3 hours, or 1 1/2 cups shelled fresh beans"

In the method:

"If you're using dried beans, cook them in a covered pot in their soaking water for about an hour, until they have completely softened. If you're using fresh beans, cook them in a 4-quart pot half full of boiling water for about 10 minutes, until they are soft but still retain the slightest crunch. Drain both fresh and dried beans in a colander. If you're using dried beans, reserve their cooking liquid. Rinse fresh beans under cold water, but don't rinse dried beans."

versus

In the headnote:

"If you can find them, use fresh beans such as cranberry (borlottti) beans or fava beans (which have to be peeled twice), but if you'e using dried beans, use borlotti, Great Northern, or white kidney beans (cannellini)."

In the ingredient list:

"1 1/2 cups shelled fresh beans

"or

"1 cup dried beans, rinsed and soaked in 1 quart cold water for 3 hours"

In the method:

"If you're using fresh beans, cook them in a 4-quart pot half full of boiling water for about 10 minutes, until they are soft but still retain the slightest crunch. Drain them in a colander (don't reserve their cooking liquid), and rinse them under cold water.

"If you're using dried beans, cook them in a covered pot in their soaking water for about an hour, until they have completely softened. Drain them in a colander (don't rinse them), and reserve their cooking liquid."