Creamy Miso Butter Beans with Spinach and Lemon Recipe
This Creamy Miso Butter Beans recipe offers a rich and comforting dish perfect for a quick and nutritious meal. Featuring tender butter beans simmered with umami-rich white miso paste, creamy whole or coconut cream, and fresh baby spinach, it’s a flavorful blend of creamy and savory flavors with a hint of brightness from lemon juice. Ready in just 30 minutes, this dish is ideal for a cozy lunch or dinner, served best with crusty bread to soak up the luscious sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Fusion (Japanese-inspired with western ingredients)
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cans butter beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock
- 1 tablespoon white miso paste
- 1/2 cup whole cream or coconut cream
Greens and Seasoning
- 3 cups packed baby spinach
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Optional: 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
Instructions
- Heat the Shallots: In a large skillet or pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the thinly sliced shallots and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until they become translucent and softened.
- Add Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly to release the aroma without burning.
- Simmer Beans with Miso: Pour in the drained and rinsed butter beans, vegetable stock, and white miso paste. Stir continuously until the miso dissolves completely. Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 10 minutes to reduce and intensify the flavors.
- Add Cream and Simmer: Stir in the whole cream or coconut cream and continue to simmer for another 5 minutes to develop a rich, creamy texture throughout the dish.
- Wilt Spinach and Season: Add the packed baby spinach along with sea salt and ground black pepper. Cook just until the spinach wilts, then remove the skillet from the heat.
- Finish with Lemon and Dill: Stir in the fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavors. Optionally, sprinkle with chopped fresh dill for added freshness. Serve warm, ideally paired with slices of crusty bread to soak up the creamy sauce.
Notes
- For a vegan variation, use coconut cream instead of whole cream.
- Ensure to rinse the butter beans well to reduce sodium content if canned.
- The cooking times may vary slightly based on stove heat and equipment.
- Fresh dill adds a lovely herbaceous note but can be omitted if unavailable.
- Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Keywords: miso butter beans, creamy butter beans, vegetarian bean recipe, miso paste recipe, quick vegetarian dinner, baby spinach recipe, creamy vegetable stew