Description
Creamy Lemon Garlic Butter Beans are a quick and comforting vegan dish featuring tender butter beans simmered in a luscious, zesty lemon garlic sauce enriched with vegan butter and cream cheese. This Mediterranean-inspired recipe uses simple pantry staples to create a flavorful, creamy meal in just 20 minutes, perfect for a speedy weeknight dinner or a delightful side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 2 small shallots, diced
- 4–5 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 3 cups fresh spinach
Beans and Dairy Alternatives
- 30 ounces canned butter beans (2 cans, with liquid included)
- 1/4 cup vegan cream cheese
Fats and Flavorings
- 3 Tablespoons vegan butter
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 Tablespoon lemon zest
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt Butter: In a large skillet, melt the vegan butter over medium heat.
- Sauté Shallots: Add the diced shallots and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Simmer Beans: Pour in the canned butter beans along with their liquid and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Create Creamy Sauce: Stir in the vegan cream cheese until melted and the sauce becomes creamy.
- Add Lemon and Season: Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper, stirring to combine all flavors well.
- Fold in Spinach: Fold in the fresh spinach and cook until just wilted, about 2 minutes.
- Serve: Serve warm immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can substitute shallots with a small yellow onion if preferred.
- Cannellini beans make an excellent alternative if butter beans are unavailable.
- Swap spinach for kale or Swiss chard for a different nutritional profile and texture.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Quick Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean Inspired
Keywords: vegan butter beans, lemon garlic beans, creamy vegan beans, quick vegan dinners, plant-based comfort food, Mediterranean vegan recipes
