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Tuscan Marry Me Butter Beans

Tuscan Marry Me Butter Beans

A rich and creamy one-pan dish featuring butter beans in a luscious sun-dried tomato and Parmesan sauce. This comforting vegetarian meal is easy to make and packed with Tuscan-inspired flavors.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 460

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp oil from a jar of sun-dried tomatoes or olive oil
  • 1 large white onion finely chopped
  • 4 cloves of garlic minced
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 80 g sun-dried tomatoes in oil drained and roughly chopped
  • 50 ml dry white wine optional, can substitute with vegetable stock
  • 250 ml vegetable stock
  • 150 ml double cream
  • 50 g Parmesan cheese finely grated, plus extra for serving
  • 2 x 400g tins of butter beans drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • A large handful of fresh basil leaves roughly torn

Method
 

  1. Sauté the Aromatics: Heat the sun-dried tomato oil (or olive oil) in a large skillet or shallow pan over a medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it has softened and become translucent.
  2. Add Garlic and Herbs: Add the minced garlic, dried oregano, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the pan. Cook for another minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn.
  3. Deglaze the Pan (Optional): If you're using white wine, pour it into the pan and let it bubble away for about a minute, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. This adds a lovely depth of flavour. If not using wine, proceed to the next step.
  4. Create the Creamy Sauce: Pour in the vegetable stock and bring it to a gentle simmer. Allow it to reduce slightly for 2-3 minutes. Then, lower the heat and stir in the double cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth.
  5. Add the Butter Beans: Gently stir the drained and rinsed butter beans into the sauce. Let everything simmer gently on a low heat for about 5-8 minutes, allowing the beans to heat through and absorb the flavours of the sauce. I find that letting the sauce simmer for a few minutes before adding the beans really helps the flavours to meld together.
  6. Final Touches: Season the dish with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your taste. Just before serving, stir through the torn fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately with a little extra grated Parmesan on top.

Notes

Serve with crusty bread for dipping or over a bed of polenta. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.