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Cozy Creamy Lemon Garlic Butter Beans

An incredibly comforting, super flavorful, and ridiculously easy dish using simple pantry ingredients. Fast enough for a weeknight but special enough for a relaxed dinner.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes

Equipment

  • medium-sized pot
  • deep skillet

Ingredients
  

Hauptzutaten

  • 2 small shallots, diced or 1 large; or half a small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely minced 4-5 cloves; fresh is always best
  • 3 Tablespoons vegan butter dairy butter works too
  • 30 ounces canned butter beans 2 cans, undrained; the starchy liquid is key
  • 0.25 cup vegan cream cheese dairy cream cheese is fine if not vegan
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice Freshly squeezed, please!
  • 0.5 Tablespoon lemon zest from 1 lemon
  • 3 cups spinach
  • Salt to taste
  • pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • First, grab a medium-sized pot or a deep skillet. Melt your vegan butter over medium heat.
  • Add the diced shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until they're soft and translucent. This usually takes about 3-5 minutes. Don't rush this step – cooking the shallots slowly builds flavor.
  • Now, toss in the minced garlic. Cook for just about 60 seconds, stirring constantly, until it's fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn! Burnt garlic is a sad thing.
  • Pour in the two cans of undrained butter beans. Yep, liquid and all! Stir everything together.
  • Add the vegan cream cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest to the pot. Stir gently until the cream cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. It might look a little rustic at first, but keep stirring, and it will come together beautifully.
  • Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and let it cook for just a few minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
  • Finally, add the spinach by the handful, stirring it in until it wilts down. This happens super fast!
  • Season generously with salt and pepper to your taste. Give it a taste and add more lemon juice, salt, or pepper if you think it needs it.
  • Serve hot! It's fantastic on its own, with crusty bread, or as a side dish.

Notes

Tips: Don't drain the canned beans; the starchy liquid is essential for creaminess. Use fresh garlic and lemon juice/zest for best flavor. Always taste and adjust seasoning (salt, pepper, lemon juice) before serving. You can dice shallots and mince garlic ahead of time. Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop, adding a splash of water or broth if needed. Freezing is possible, but texture may change upon thawing.