Flavorful Butter Beans with Leeks Recipe
A comforting and flavorful dish of buttery cannellini beans cooked with fragrant leeks, garlic, and fresh herbs, finished with sharp cheddar and vegetarian pecorino cheeses, lemon zest, and parsley for brightness and freshness. Perfect as a hearty side or a light main course.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Butter Beans:
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 garlic cloves (freshly minced)
- 2 tbsp white wine (dry variety like Sauvignon Blanc)
- 1 leek (white and light green parts only, thinly sliced)
- 1 tbsp butter (unsalted, Kerrygold preferred)
- 30g sharp cheddar cheese (finely grated)
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 1 sprig thyme
- 1 can cannellini beans (drained and rinsed well)
- 3/4 cup vegetable broth
- 1 tsp salt
For Finishing:
- Juice and zest of 1/2 lemon
- 1 handful fresh parsley (finely chopped)
- 15g vegetarian pecorino cheese (freshly grated)
Instructions
- Sauté the Aromatics: Add butter to a saucepan and melt it over low heat to prevent burning. Once melted, add thinly sliced leeks, minced garlic, thyme sprig, and diced rosemary. Cook gently for 8 to 10 minutes until the leeks are soft and fragrant, taking care to keep the heat low to avoid browning.
- Deglaze with Wine: Pour in 2 tablespoons of dry white wine and allow it to cook for 2 minutes. This step deglazes the pan and infuses the dish with additional depth of flavor.
- Combine Beans and Stock: Add the drained cannellini beans, 3/4 cup vegetable broth, salt, and black pepper to the pan. Stir in 30g finely grated sharp cheddar cheese, letting it melt into the warm mixture. Cook for another 8 to 10 minutes until everything is heated through and well incorporated.
- Finish with Pecorino and Seasonings: Grate 15g of vegetarian pecorino cheese over the beans. Add extra seasoning to taste, squeeze in juice and zest of half a lemon to brighten the flavor, and scatter finely chopped fresh parsley on top before serving.
Notes
- Use freshly minced garlic for the best flavor.
- Keep the heat low while cooking the leeks to prevent browning and bitterness.
- A dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc adds brightness without overpowering the dish.
- Vegetarian pecorino can be substituted with regular pecorino or another hard cheese if preferred.
- This dish can be served warm as a side or light main, excellent with crusty bread.
- For a vegan variation, omit the cheeses and use olive oil instead of butter.
Keywords: butter beans, cannellini beans, leeks, vegetarian, stovetop beans, Mediterranean beans, cheddar cheese beans, pecorino beans, quick bean recipe
Find it online: https://islawhite.com/flavorful-butter-beans-with-leeks-recipe/
