A lovely, minimum-effort, one-pot meal that's packed with fiber, protein, and nutrients. Great as a warm lunch or light dinner.
Servings 2-3 servings
Course Beans, Main Meals
Cuisine Italian
Ingredients
2tablespoonolive oil
1white onionfinely diced
3garlic clovesminced
150gcherry tomatoeshalved
60mlwater
Salt and pepper to taste
2tablespoontomato paste
1lemonjuice and zest
400gtin butter beansdrained and rinsed
75gbaby spinachchopped
50gricotta
5-6basil leavesshredded
0.5teaspoonred chili flakes
Method
Heat the oil in a pan and add the diced onion and garlic. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent.
2 tablespoon olive oil, 1 white onion, 3 garlic cloves
Add the halved cherry tomatoes along with the water and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Stir to combine, then cover the pan and let the tomatoes steam for 10 minutes.
150 g cherry tomatoes, 60 ml water, Salt and pepper to taste
Remove the lid and use your spoon to break down the tomatoes. Add the tomato paste and stir it into the onions and garlic for a minute or two.
2 tablespoon tomato paste
Add the butter beans, lemon juice, zest, and spinach. Stir while the spinach wilts down (2-3 minutes), then taste and adjust any seasonings.
1 lemon, 400 g tin butter beans, 75 g baby spinach
Top the beans with the ricotta, basil leaves, and red chili flakes.
50 g ricotta, 5-6 basil leaves, 0.5 teaspoon red chili flakes
Here are a couple of my top tips for making the most out of this recipe - I always test my recipes at least twice before publishing them (but honestly, I make a version of these beans most weeks for a quick lunch to meal prep - so I’ve had a lot of practice!):
Covering the tomatoes is key. It traps steam, so they break down quickly without needing loads of liquid. Use the back of a spoon to crush the tomatoes once they soften - you’ll get a rustic sauce without blending.
Taste after adding lemon. Lemon can brighten everything, but it also might need an extra pinch of salt afterward.