Description
Marry Me Beans is a quick and flavorful creamy bean dish simmered with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and aromatic herbs, finished with Parmesan and fresh lemon juice. It’s perfect as a comforting side or a light meal served with crusty bread.
Ingredients
Base Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp sun-dried tomato oil, plus more for serving
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 (15 oz.) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- ½ cup vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
Seasonings
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ¼ tsp coarse salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Finishing Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp heavy cream
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
- Chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
- Crusty bread, for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oil and garlic: Heat the sun-dried tomato oil in a medium pot or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the minced garlic and cook for about 20 seconds until fragrant, making sure not to burn it.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes and beans: Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Then add the rinsed and drained cannellini beans along with the vegetable or chicken broth. Stir in the dried thyme, oregano, onion powder, red pepper flakes, coarse salt, and black pepper.
- Simmer and mash: Bring the mixture to a gentle bubble and let it simmer for a few minutes. To create a creamier texture, roughly mash some of the beans with the back of a spoon or a potato masher while cooking.
- Add cream, cheese, and lemon: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and fresh lemon juice. Stir continuously until the cheese melts smoothly into the beans.
- Adjust seasoning and serve: Taste the mixture and adjust seasonings as needed. Top with a drizzle of additional sun-dried tomato oil, more Parmesan cheese, and a sprinkle of fresh chopped basil or parsley. Serve warm with crusty bread and enjoy!
Notes
- Sun-dried tomato oil adds a unique flavor, but you can substitute with olive oil if unavailable.
- Cannellini beans can be swapped for other white beans like great northern or navy beans.
- To make this dish vegetarian but not vegan, omit heavy cream or substitute with a plant-based cream alternative and use a vegan Parmesan option.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level.
- This recipe pairs wonderfully with crusty bread to soak up the creamy beans.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
