Name: Marry Me Butter Beans
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter; 4 cloves garlic minced; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds lightly crushed; 1/3 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes chopped; 2 teaspoons tomato paste; 3/4 cup vegetable broth; 3/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half; 2 15-ounce cans butter beans drained and rinsed; 1 teaspoon italian seasoning; 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese use rennet-free if vegetarian; 1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar; 1/2 cup chopped frozen spinach or 2 cups of fresh spinach; Zest of 1 lemon; Juice of 1/2 lemon or 1 tablespoon; drizzle extra virgin olive oil optional for serving

Ingredients

Scale

2 tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds lightly crushed
1/3 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes chopped
2 teaspoons tomato paste
3/4 cup vegetable broth
3/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
2 15-ounce cans butter beans drained and rinsed
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese use rennet-free if vegetarian
1 1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup chopped frozen spinach or 2 cups of fresh spinach
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of 1/2 lemon or 1 tablespoon
drizzle extra virgin olive oil optional for serving

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Instructions

Melt the butter in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, and crushed fennel seeds and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and tomato paste, cooking for 2–3 minutes until thick and jammy.
Pour in vegetable broth and heavy cream, stirring well and bringing to a gentle simmer.
Add butter beans and Italian seasoning, letting simmer undisturbed for 1–2 minutes before stirring and cooking for another 2–3 minutes. Lightly mash a quarter of the beans to thicken the sauce.
Stir in salt, black pepper, parmesan cheese, and balsamic vinegar until smooth.
Add spinach, stirring until just warmed and wilted for about 2 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest and juice.
Optionally drizzle olive oil before serving. Serve warm.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, use rennet-free parmesan cheese.
This dish pairs well with crusty bread for a complete meal.
Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your spice preference.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 380
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 700mg
Fat: 26g
Saturated Fat: 13g
Unsaturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 29g
Fiber: 8g
Protein: 13g
Cholesterol: 60mg

Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.