Easy Tuscan Butter Beans with Spinach (Print version)

Creamy butter beans with sun-dried tomatoes and wilted spinach in a Parmesan cream sauce, ready in 30 minutes for a hearty vegetarian dinner.

# Ingredients:

For the beans and sauce

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil (or oil from sun-dried tomato jar)

02 - 1 small yellow onion, diced

03 - 4 cloves garlic, minced

04 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste

05 - 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped

06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano

07 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

08 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

11 - 2 (15 oz / 425 g) cans butter beans, drained and rinsed

12 - 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable broth

For finishing

13 - 3 cups (90 g) fresh spinach

14 - 1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy cream

15 - 1/3 cup (30 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

# Instructions:

01 - Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.

02 - Add the tomato paste and cook for a minute while stirring, letting it darken slightly. Toss in the sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute to wake up the spices.

03 - Pour in the vegetable broth and add the drained butter beans. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat and let it bubble for 5 to 7 minutes so the beans absorb flavor.

04 - Use the back of a spoon to mash about half a cup of beans against the side of the pan. Stir the mashed beans back into the sauce. This gives you body without flour or cornstarch.

05 - Stir in the fresh spinach and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, just until it collapses into the sauce.

06 - Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan until the cheese melts and the sauce looks silky. Taste and adjust the salt.

# Good to know:

01 - Best served immediately while the sauce is silky.

02 - Rinse canned beans to reduce sodium before adding to the pan.

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