This delicious Butter Beans recipe has a tomato base that is made creamy with tahini. It’s the ultimate comfort dish.
Oh, baby! This recipe uses delicious Butter Beans (who in my opinion are having a MOMENT) to create a creamy, tomato-based bean recipe that’ll knock your socks off. It’s warming, comforting, and the perfect main dish when paired with a salad and crusty bread, or as a side dish. I promise you, you’re going to love this.
❤️ Why You’ll Love These Butter Beans
- Creamy: What I love so much about this recipe is how creamy it is. The creaminess comes from tahini and it’s the perfect sidekick to the tomato-base
- Comforting: Butter beans are so buttery and delicious. They make the perfect comfort food, and this creamy masterpiece will warm you from the inside
- Versatile: Meal prep these for lunches, eat them as a main course or a side, or make them your own by adding in other veggies
🍲 Ingredients
Butter Beans – Also known as lima beans, butter beans are a small bean that has a creamy and buttery flavor. They are so versatile and can be added to things like salads, soups, or stews. Bonus points for it being a healthy, plant-based protein
Tahini – Tahini is made with hulled sesame seeds, oil, and salt. It makes a creamy, smooth seed butter that can be added to sauces, and dressing, and is one of the key ingredients in hummus. Tahini is also a source of healthy fats, calcium, and magnesium
👩🍳 How to Make Butter Beans
- Add 2 tbsp olive oil to a large high-sided frying pan or pot. Heat to medium heat and add the onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and pinch of chili flakes. Cook for 4-5 minutes to soften, stirring often. Add the butter beans, diced tomatoes, and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20-25 minutes on medium-low with the lid mostly on, until most of the liquid has evaporated and you’re left with creamy beans. Make sure to stir occasionally.
- After 20-25 minutes, in a small bowl whisk together tahini, pressed garlic, and lemon juice until combined. Then add the water and whisk again until smooth. Add the tahini mixture to the beans, stir, and cook for 5 more minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if desired.
- Enjoy topped with a drizzle of olive oil, and garnish with fresh oregano, parsley, and lemon zest. Serve with a side of our Pita Bread or another bread of choice.
🗒 Variations
There are so many fantastic recipes you can make with butter beans, here are some that I love to make:
🗒 Substitutions
Here are some easy substitutes you can make in this recipe to make it your own or use what you have on hand:
- Chili Flakes: You can totally add more than a pinch if you prefer your butter beans to be spicy
- Veggies: Add in some of your fav veggies to this dish like zucchini or mushrooms
- Toppings: Top this recipe with your favorite fresh herbs or even some cheese like feta
🗒 Best served with
👝 How to Store Leftovers
Store leftovers of this recipe in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. This dish is so good even leftover.
🤔 Common Questions
Are butter beans and lima beans the same?
Yes! These are exactly the same thing and can be called either or when looking for them in the grocery store.
What are butter beans good for?
They are rich in vitamins and minerals, and a great source of potassium, magnesium, among other things. These can be a great addition to your diet by adding them in curries, soups, stews, salads, or dishes like this recipe.
Can I use another kind of bean?
Totally! Some good substitutes are cannellini beans, northern beans, navy beans, or chickpeas. You can also use a combination of whatever you like best.
Creamy Tomato Butter Beans
This delicious Butter Beans recipe has a tomato base that is made creamy with tahini. It’s the ultimate comfort dish.
Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 3 -4
Calories 423 kcal
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- pinch chili flakes
- 3 14oz cans of butter beans, drained and rinsed
- 3/4 cup vegetable broth (can use chicken broth if not vegan or veggie)
- 1 3/4 cups diced tomatoes
- 3 tbsp tahini
- 3 garlic cloves, pressed
- juice of one lemon
- 1/4 cup water
- garnishes: fresh oregano, fresh parsley and lemon zest
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Add 2 tbsp olive oil to a large high-sided frying pan or pot. Heat to medium heat and add the onion, garlic, salt, pepper and pinch of chili flakes. Cook for 4-5 minutes to soften, stirring often. Add the butter beans, diced tomatoes and broth of choice. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20-25 minutes on medium-low with the lid mostly on, until most of the liquid has evaporated and you’re left with creamy beans. Make sure to stir occasionally.
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After 20-25 minutes, in a small bowl whisk together tahini, pressed garlic and lemon juice until combined. Then add the water and whisk again until smooth. Add the tahini mixture to the beans, stir and cook for 5 more minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if desired.
- Enjoy topped with a drizzle of olive oil, garnish with fresh oregano and parsley and lemon zest. Serve with a side of our Pita Bread or another bread of choice.
Calories: 423kcal | Carbohydrates: 59.4g | Protein: 18.2g | Fat: 15.3g | Saturated Fat: 2.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7.6g | Sodium: 2015.6mg | Fiber: 13.8g | Sugar: 7.8g