Flavorful Butter Beans with Leeks Recipe
This flavorful butter beans with leeks recipe combines tender cannellini beans with aromatic leeks, garlic, and fresh herbs, enriched with melted cheddar and vegetarian pecorino cheeses. Finished with lemon zest and parsley, this comforting dish is perfect for a hearty lunch or dinner served alongside crispy bread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Legumes and Vegetables
- 1 can drained cannellini beans
- 1 leek, finely sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1 sprig rosemary, diced
- 1 sprig thyme
- Handful of parsley, finely chopped
Liquids and Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons white wine
- 3/4 cup vegetable broth
- Juice and zest of half a lemon
Cheese
- 30g cheddar cheese
- 15g vegetarian pecorino cheese
Instructions
- Sauté the Aromatics: Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat to avoid burning. Add finely sliced leeks, garlic, thyme, and diced rosemary. Cook gently for 8 to 10 minutes until the leeks are soft and fragrant, maintaining low heat to prevent browning.
- Deglaze with Wine: Pour in the white wine and let it simmer for a couple of minutes to deglaze the pan and enhance the flavors of the aromatics.
- Combine Beans and Stock: Add the drained cannellini beans, vegetable broth, salt, and pepper to the pan. Stir in the cheddar cheese, allowing it to melt smoothly into the mixture. Cook for another 8 to 10 minutes until everything is heated through and well combined.
- Finish with Pecorino and Seasonings: Grate the vegetarian pecorino cheese over the beans. Add extra seasoning to taste, then squeeze in the lemon juice and sprinkle lemon zest. Stir through the chopped parsley to add freshness and color.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the warm butter beans immediately, ideally with slices of crispy bread to soak up the creamy cheesy sauce. Enjoy a delicious and hearty meal!
Notes
- Keep the heat low when sautéing to avoid burning the butter and leeks.
- Choose a dry white wine for the best deglazing and flavor enhancement.
- You can swap cannellini beans with other white beans like butter beans or navy beans if preferred.
- The vegetarian pecorino provides a nice salty finish but can be omitted or substituted with another hard cheese if necessary.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the cheddar cheese melted perfectly in the sauce.
Keywords: butter beans recipe, leeks and beans, vegetarian main dish, cheesy beans, Mediterranean cooking, stovetop beans
