Creamy White Beans with Spinach and Parmesan
Make this simple, satisfying dish of creamy white beans, wilted spinach, and sharp Parmesan cheese. It is a quick, hearty vegetarian meal or a flavorful side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 5 ounces fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped shallot and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
- Add one can of the rinsed white beans to the skillet. Use the back of a wooden spoon or a potato masher to lightly mash about half of these beans against the side of the pan. This creates the creamy base.
- Add the second can of whole beans and the broth to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Stir in the heavy cream. Let it cook for 2 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Add the fresh spinach in batches, stirring until it wilts down completely into the bean mixture.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until melted and incorporated.
- Season generously with salt and black pepper to your taste. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use a good quality Parmesan cheese.
- If you do not have cannellini beans, Great Northern beans work well in this recipe.
- To make this dish vegan, substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk and use a vegan Parmesan alternative.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 10
- Protein: 18
- Cholesterol: 25