This simple, easy beans a limone recipe is a take on pasta a limone, with of course a few liberties taken. What this leaves you with is a creamy, dreamy lemony sauce spooned around butter beans. Just a few of my absolute favorite things. It’s easy to make, quick to assemble and done in 30 minutes. This is one of my most satisfying meals, and of course, if you choose to add pasta to the mix, I wouldn’t blame you 🙂
Table of contents
What is pasta a limone?
Pasta a limone is a traditional Italian dish, usually only using pasta, lemon juice, butter and parmesan cheese. This dish has been adapted in many western styles of cooking, with some recipes using white wine and some using heavy cream, and of course, some using both! I was taught with the cream version, but of course, if you want to swap this for cashew cream of vegan cream, that’s totally doable here, too. This isn’t like authentic pasta a limone, but I think that’s part of the charm!
Ingredients you will need for beans a limone
I love a short ingredients list, it’s easy for me and it’s easy for you, too. Here’s everything you need for this simple bean dinner:
- 3 15 oz. cans of butter beans
- 2/3 cup heavy cream, vegan cream also works well here
- 2 lemons for zest and juice
- 6 tablespoons cold salted butter, vegan butter also works here
- 2 ounces freshly grated parmesan
- 1/4 cup curly parsley, finely chopped
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
How to make these beans a limone
- Drain and rinse the butter beans.
- Zest both lemons into a large dutch oven. Then juice just one lemon, setting aside about 3 tablespoons of juice.
- Add the heavy cream to the dutch oven and bring it to a slight simmer. Then, whisking constantly, add in 1 tablespoon of butter at a time, adding another as soon as the prior one is combined into the sauce.
- Add the beans into the sauce and stir, letting simmer another 5-6 minutes to let the sauce thicken around the beans. Grate in the parmesan and stir to create a smooth and glossy sauce.
- Add in the lemon juice, then season with salt and pepper to taste. It shouldn’t need much.
- Serve on four plates and scatter the parsley on top. Serve warm!
Looking for other bean-based recipes?
Here are a few of my favorites!
And that’s it for this beans a limone recipe! It’s short and sweet this time <3
If you make it, please tag me on Pinterest or Instagram so I can see! It’s my favorite thing to scroll through stories and see what you all are making.
And of course feel free to leave any questions, comments or reviews! This is the best place to reach me, and I’d love to hear from you <3
Beans a Limone
Equipment
- 1 large pot
Ingredients
- 3 15 oz. cans of butter beans
- 2/3 cup heavy cream vegan cream also works well here
- 2 lemons for zest and juice
- 6 tablespoons cold salted butter vegan butter also works here
- 2 ounces freshly grated parmesan
- 1/4 cup curly parsley finely chopped
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Drain and rinse the butter beans.
- Zest both lemons into a large dutch oven. Then juice just one lemon, setting aside about 3 tablespoons of juice.
- Add the heavy cream to the dutch oven and bring it to a slight simmer. Then, whisking constantly, add in 1 tablespoon of butter at a time, adding another as soon as the prior one is combined into the sauce.
- Add the beans into the sauce and stir, letting simmer another 5-6 minutes to let the sauce thicken around the beans. Grate in the parmesan and stir to create a smooth and glossy sauce.
- Add in the lemon juice, then season with salt and pepper to taste. It shouldn't need much.
- Serve on four plates and scatter the parsley on top. Serve warm!
This recipe was so delicious and insanely quick and easy to put together! You’ve really put me on to the butter bean train and I’m never getting off.
Hi! Would you mind sharing what brand of vegan cream you use? Having a hard time finding one. Many thanks in advance!
Califa farms’ version is INCREDIBLE for this!
Absolutely delicious! I’m a huge fan of pasta a limone, so this seemed like a no-brainer. Easy and quick to make, and honestly very inexpensive 🙂 With a side of toast, this was a perfect meal!
Was so excited to try this and it didn’t disappoint! Easy to make and very flavorful!
I’m so glad you made it and liked it! It’s one of my absolute favorites 🙂
How would a mix of butter beans and cannellini beans work? Butter beans are more expensive at my store so I like to “water them down” so to speak.
Any bean will work! That swap is totally fine 🙂
This absolutely ruled and was so easy!
YAY I’m so glad you liked it!