Description
This Creamiest White Beans recipe delivers a luscious and comforting side dish featuring tender cannellini beans cooked with aromatic garlic, thyme, and a touch of heat from crushed red pepper flakes. Finished with cream for velvety richness, it’s perfect served over toast or alongside your favorite greens, offering a delicious Mediterranean-inspired flavor with simple ingredients and straightforward stovetop cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 cans (15 oz each) white beans (cannellini or great northern), drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup vegetable or chicken broth
- 1/4 cup heavy cream (or full-fat coconut milk for dairy-free)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For Garnish (Optional)
- Chopped parsley
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the Onion: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until it becomes soft and translucent, forming the flavorful base for the beans.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add minced garlic, fresh thyme leaves, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Sauté for another minute until fragrant, allowing the flavors to meld and deepen.
- Add Beans and Broth: Stir in the drained and rinsed white beans along with the vegetable or chicken broth. Let the mixture simmer gently for 8 to 10 minutes, mashing some of the beans with a spoon to create a creamy texture while still maintaining some bean chunks.
- Finish with Cream: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream or coconut milk. Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture thickens and becomes luxuriously creamy. Season with salt and black pepper to your taste.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve the creamy white beans warm as a side dish, spooned over toast, or alongside fresh greens. Garnish with chopped parsley or grated Parmesan cheese if desired for extra flavor and color.
Notes
- For an extra rich and smooth texture, blend a portion of the cooked beans before adding the cream.
- Add a zest of lemon or a splash of vinegar at the end to brighten the dish and add a subtle tang.
- This recipe can be made dairy-free by swapping heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk.
- Adjust the crushed red pepper flakes to control the level of heat according to your preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-Inspired, American
