Cheesy Baked Butter Beans with Spinach
In short: Creamy butter beans and spinach baked in a garlicky tomato sauce under bubbling melted cheese. An easy vegetarian dinner for bread and a salad. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 300 kcal
Big, soft butter beans suit baking because they stay whole and turn creamy at the center. They are simmered briefly in a tomato sauce with smoked paprika and oregano, mixed with spinach and then finished under a blanket of melted cheese. The whole thing is cooked in one ovenproof pan and takes about 50 minutes. Serve with crusty bread or rice and a sharp green salad.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Heat the oil in a 25 cm (10 inch) ovenproof skillet over medium heat and cook the onion for 6 minutes until soft.
- Add the garlic, tomato paste, paprika and oregano and stir for 1 minute. Pour in the tomatoes with the salt and pepper and simmer for 8 minutes, until slightly thickened.
- Add the spinach a handful at a time, stirring until it wilts. This takes about 2 minutes.
- Gently stir in the butter beans so they stay whole, and warm them through for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
- Scatter the cheese evenly over the top. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until the cheese has melted and turned golden in spots.
- Rest for 5 minutes, then top with basil and serve with bread.
Tips
- If you do not have an ovenproof skillet, transfer the beans to a baking dish before adding the cheese.
- Add crumbled feta or a spoonful of pesto for extra flavor, or use a grated vegan cheese that melts well in place of the dairy cheese for a vegan version.
Questions and answers
Can I prepare this ahead of time?
Yes. Make the bean and tomato mixture up to 2 days ahead, refrigerate it, and add the cheese just before baking. Add 5 minutes to the oven time.
Can I use another type of bean?
Cannellini, haricot or giant white beans work well. Chickpeas are also good, though the texture is firmer than butter beans.
What should I serve with baked butter beans?
Crusty bread, garlic toast, rice or a simple salad of cucumber and tomato. Roasted potatoes make it a heartier meal.
How long does it take to make Cheesy Baked Butter Beans with Spinach?
About 50 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Cheesy Baked Butter Beans with Spinach?
About 300 kcal per serving, with 17 g of protein, 27 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 300 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 17 g |
| Carbohydrates | 27 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 9 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 680 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
