Description
Creamy tuscan butter beans with spinach emerges as a comforting Italian-inspired dish perfect for hearty meals. Fragrant herbs and silky beans create a delightful Mediterranean experience that will satisfy hungry souls.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 400 grams (14 ounces) butter beans or cannellini beans, drained
- 4–5 sun-dried or sun-blushed tomatoes (or mix both)
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon oil from sun-dried tomatoes jar
Seasonings & Liquids:
- 250 milliliters (1 cup) vegetable stock
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 4 fresh basil leaves, sliced (or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil)
- Salt to taste
Finishing Ingredients:
- 125 milliliters (1/2 cup) single/light cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 30 grams (1 cup) fresh spinach
Instructions
- Warm sun-dried tomato oil in a skillet over gentle heat, gently sautéing finely chopped shallots for approximately 2 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
- Quickly introduce minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes, stirring for 30 seconds to release aromatic flavors.
- Carefully fold in butter beans, sprinkling with salt and paprika, then deglaze the pan with apple cider vinegar, allowing liquid to reduce and concentrate flavors.
- Pour in vegetable stock and fresh basil, reducing heat to create a gentle simmer for 10 minutes, allowing beans to absorb surrounding seasonings.
- Incorporate heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until cheese melts and creates a smooth, creamy texture.
- Add fresh spinach leaves, allowing them to gently wilt into the mixture by covering the skillet briefly to expedite the process.
- Perform final seasoning with additional salt if needed, then remove from heat, ensuring beans are tender and spinach is perfectly wilted.
Notes
- Choose high-quality sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil for richer flavor infusion into the dish.
- Rinse canned butter beans thoroughly to reduce sodium and remove excess starch for better texture.
- Use fresh spinach leaves for vibrant color and maximum nutritional benefits, avoiding frozen varieties.
- Adjust liquid consistency by adding more stock if beans appear too dry during simmering process.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 20mg