Sicilian Pesto Butter Beans with Crispy Basil
Sicilian pesto is an almond-based pesto that combines cherry tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil for a creamy and flavorful sauce. Paired with butter beans, this dish is a quick and delicious 1-pan meal that is ready in about 30 minutes. It is gluten-free and soy-free, with a nut-free option available.
This chunky pesto made with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil adds a vibrant and saucy element to the dish. The umami-packed pesto works perfectly as a pasta sauce with butter beans.
Featuring a mix of toasted almond slivers or almond flour along with hemp seeds, the pesto sauce adds a protein boost to the meal. Cooking aromatics, adding the pesto, some stock, and butter beans, and bringing it to a boil creates a simple yet flavorful dish.
To elevate the dish, crispy basil is added on top. Fresh basil is crisped in olive oil with garlic, creating a heavenly flavor combination with the cherry tomatoes and basil in the sauce.
This dish is high in protein, with sources coming from the hemp seeds, almonds, vegan parmesan, vegan mozzarella, nutritional yeast, and butter beans. To increase protein intake, consider serving it with high-protein sides like multigrain bread or protein-rich pasta options.
Add splashes of water in between to help conduct heat evenly and brown the onion evenly.
Once the onion is golden brown, mix the Sicilian pesto and the oregano to the skillet. Then use ½ cup of water to rinse out the food processor and add that water to the skillet, as well. Bring the mixture to a boil. Add the remaining salt and mix well. Taste and adjust the salt and flavor.
Mix in ¼ cup of water and the butter beans. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes. If the sauce thickens too much, add more water to adjust the consistency, and bring it back to a boil.
Top the pan with the reserved crisp basil and garlic, then turn off the heat. If you prefer more heat, sprinkle with additional pepper flakes. The butter beans will have a strong basil flavor right after cooking, but the flavors will meld and settle in the next 5 to 10 minutes.
Serve these butter beans with toasted sourdough, garlic bread, multigrain bread, over pasta, or with roasted vegetables. They are creamy, fresh, and full of basil and tomato flavor.
What to Serve with Sicilian Pesto Butter Beans
You can serve this as an entree with multigrain bread or garlic bread on the side. It’s also a great sauce over your favorite pasta!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this recipe allergy friendly?
This recipe is gluten-free, and it is soy-free as long as you use soy-free vegan cheese in the Sicilian pesto sauce. For a nut-free version, omit the almond flour or slivers and add more hemp seeds instead.
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Around the house, the cat chased the mouse.
