This quickly and easily made Butter Bean Mash is a perfect side dish to meat, poultry or fish. The creamy, mild butter beans readily absorb the accompanying flavours of aromatic rosemary, garlic and freshly grated parmesan cheese. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice balances and enhances the flavours. You will be delighted that such an easy dish is so flavoursome, as well as being nourishing, satisfying and able to be prepared in minutes.
You will love this Butter Bean Mash because:
- For ease, we use tinned beans, and this means that you can have a deliciously smooth, creamy, comforting mash ready in about 15 minutes.
- You don’t need any culinary skills to make this delicious side dish. Just add the beans to a small food processor and blitz to a smooth puree. Then warm them with the remaining ingredients in a saucepan and serve. It’s that easy!
- The Butter Bean Mash is smooth and creamy, a perfect accompaniment to meat, poultry or fish.
- The beans have a mild flavour, which makes them ideal for customising the added flavours to suit your taste.
- Butter beans have many health benefits. They are a low-fat, low-calorie food, as well as being a complex carbohydrate, which means they digest more slowly, and you will feel satisfied longer. Also, they are rich in health-benefiting dietary fibre and are a great, meat-free source of protein as well as being a good source of a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Ingredients in this recipe:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
Butter beans – we use tinned beans, which are readily available and inexpensive. Their soft, creamy texture makes them ideal for this dish. Also known as Lima beans, they make a hearty, comforting side dish. As well, they are similar to Greek Gigantes beans.
Water – to thin the mixture.
Olive oil – for the best flavour and nutritional benefit, we use extra virgin olive oil. Use the best olive oil that you have.
Garlic – we use fresh garlic as the flavour is superior to the bottled variety.
Rosemary – fresh rosemary is an aromatic, woody herb that adds great flavour to the beans.
Lemon zest and juice – these are great flavour boosters. Be sure to remove the zest before juicing the lemon.
Parmesan cheese – freshly grated parmesan adds great umami flavour to the beans. Use good quality cheese.
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper – add to suit your taste.
How to Make Butter Bean Mash:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
1 – Blend the beans:
In a small food processor, blend the butter beans and water until a smooth puree forms. Set aside.
2 – Cook the garlic:
In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat and add the garlic, cooking for 1-2 minutes. Add the rosemary and stir.
3 – Add the beans to the garlic:
Add the pureed bean mixture, lemon juice and zest and warm through.
4 – Add the Parmesan:
Just before serving, add the parmesan cheese and season with sea salt and pepper.
Tips for success and FAQs:
When a recipe is as simple as this one, it is important to use good-quality ingredients. Extra virgin olive oil will give you the best flavour as well as increased nutritional benefit. Good quality parmesan, which you freshly grate, is also important – it will make a great difference to the flavour of the dish. And for a mash that is smooth and creamy, be sure to blend the beans well.
No, you can use another variety. Cannellini beans are a great substitute.
Yes, you can; this is an ideal dish to make ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Gently reheat before serving. If necessary, add a small amount of water to get the consistency you want.
You certainly can. In fact, it’s a great idea to make a larger quantity so you have a batch ready to go when you need it. Freeze the cold mash in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Simply defrost and gently reheat before serving. If necessary, add a small amount of water to get the consistency you want.
Serving suggestions:
This delicious Butter Bean Mash is the perfect side dish to many main courses. We like to serve it alongside:
- Roast Chicken or Spatchcock Chicken
- Crispy Stovetop Chicken Thighs
- Tuna and Potato Patties
- Any grilled fish or meat dishes.
Canned beans are such a fantastic pantry staple. A simple side dish can really elevate a meal, and this family-friendly Butter Bean Mash is certain to become a regular addition to your meals.
Alex xx
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Butter Bean Mash
Ingredients
- 2 cans butter beans (800 g/28 oz) – drained and rinsed
- 2 tablespoon water See Note 1
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic – finely chopped
- 3 teaspoon fresh rosemary – finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice – freshly squeezed
- â…“ cup Parmesan cheese – freshly grated See Note 2
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper – to taste See Note 3
Recipe Measurements:
For accuracy, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results.
Instructions
- In a small food processor, blend the beans and water until a smooth puree forms. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat and add the garlic. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes. Add the rosemary.
- Add the pureed bean mixture, lemon juice and zest and warm through.
- When the bean mash is warmed through, stir in the parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add more lemon if desired and serve with a drizzle of olive oil.
Notes
- Tablespoon:Â we use a standard Australian tablespoon which is 20 ml (4 teaspoons).
- Parmesan: use the best quality you can and ensure it is freshly grated for the best flavour, and for the cheese to melt in to the mash properly.
- Seasoning: adjust the seasoning to your liking – we recommend using freshly ground black pepper and sea salt flakes for the best flavour.
Nutrition Estimate:
Nutritional Disclaimer:
The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Sherry
how delicious! i do love a bean mash esp. with lots of olive oil and garlic! I use cannellini most times.
Alexandra
Hi Sherry, thank you for your lovely feedback on the Butter Bean Mash. I appreciate that you took the time to contact me. đŸ™‚
Susan Lancaster
Great recipe for butter bean lovers! I am always looking for simple, easy recipes that bring out the natural flavor in beans and this was a winner. Really great versatile side dish that turns out perfect, every time!
Alexandra
Hi Susan, I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Butter Bean Mash and appreciate that you took the time to let me know. đŸ™‚
Jamie
This is so creamy and buttery! I’ve made this twice now, once with butter beans and again with cannellini beans. I added some leftover roasted garlic, rosemary, and thyme. The flavor and texture is so good. If you’re looking for a healthy, creamy side, this is it!
Alexandra
Hi Jamie, thank you for your lovely feedback on the Butter Bean Mash. I am so pleased that you enjoyed it; your additions sound delicious! đŸ™‚