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Creamy Tomato Butter Beans Recipe

4.4 from 80 reviews

Creamy Tomato Butter Beans is a comforting dish combining tender butter beans simmered in a rich and flavorful tomato sauce, enhanced with garlic and finished with cream for a luscious texture. Perfect as a hearty side or a light vegetarian main, this easy-to-make recipe offers a satisfying blend of creaminess and tangy tomato notes.

Ingredients

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried butter beans (or 2 cups cooked/canned butter beans, drained and rinsed)
  • 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes or fresh tomatoes, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: fresh basil or parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Beans: If using dried butter beans, soak them overnight and cook until tender. For canned beans, rinse and drain thoroughly to remove excess sodium.
  2. Sauté Garlic: In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant and lightly golden, about 1-2 minutes.
  3. Add Tomatoes: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, stir, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, allowing the sauce to reduce slightly and develop flavor.
  4. Simmer Beans in Tomato Sauce: Add the cooked butter beans to the tomato sauce. Stir gently to combine and let the mixture simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the beans to absorb the tomato flavors and soften further.
  5. Add Cream: Lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until the sauce is creamy and heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Serve: Remove from heat and garnish with fresh herbs like basil or parsley if desired. Serve warm as a side dish or a light main course.

Notes

  • For a vegan version, substitute cream with coconut cream or cashew cream.
  • Adjust seasoning based on salt content of canned beans to avoid oversalting.
  • Simmering time may vary depending on whether beans are canned or freshly cooked.
  • Fresh tomatoes can be used but may require longer cooking to break down.

Keywords: butter beans, creamy tomato sauce, vegetarian beans recipe, easy side dish, tomato beans, garlic butter beans, creamy vegetarian dish