Creamy Skillet White Beans with Greens and Parmesan
Italian-style creamy cannellini beans cook in about 10 minutes on the stovetop, in a garlicky cream sauce strewn with leafy greens and lots of Parmesan. Serve as a hearty side dish, meatless main or add a cooked protein such as chicken, shrimp or chicken meatballs to make an easy dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup sliced shallot or yellow onion
- 2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans drained (or 3 cups cooked beans)
- 2 grated or finely chopped garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary thyme or oregano, or 1 teaspoon dried
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ¼ cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
- ¼ cup heavy cream or creme fraiche
- 3 cups torn leafy greens such as kale or spinach
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Put 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and ¼ cup sliced shallot or yellow onion in a 10-12-inch skillet set over medium-high heat. Cook and stir 2-3 minutes, until they're softened.
- Add 2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, 2 grated or finely chopped garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, 1 teaspoon kosher salt½ teaspoon crushed red pepper to the pan and give the mixture a stir. Cook for a minute or two, until the garlic smells fragrant (but don't brown it).
- Pour in ¼ cup chicken broth and ¼ cup heavy cream. Bring to a simmer, then lower the heat slightly and cook about 10 minutes, stirring once or twice.
- Lower the heat and add 3 cups torn leafy greens to the skillet. Stir them in, and continue cooking until the greens turn bright green and begin to wilt. Remove from the heat. Sprinkle ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheeseover the beans and stir.
- Serve the beans warm as a main dish, side dish or spooned over pasta.
Video
Notes
- Instead of broth, you can use some of liquid from canned beans to make the sauce.
- The cooked beans keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container up to 4 days. They can also be frozen for up to one month: cool completely, then pack into an airtight container.
Nutrition
Calories: 258kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 11gFat: 15gSodium: 1088mgFiber: 7gSugar: 1g
