French Onion Butter Beans Recipe
A rich and comforting dish featuring slow-caramelized white onions combined with creamy butter beans in a savory, balsamic-infused sauce finished with rosemary and cream. Perfect as a hearty side or light vegetarian main, this recipe offers deep flavor developed through a careful stovetop caramelization process.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 large white onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp rosemary, dried or fresh, diced
Liquids and Dairy
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 250 ml vegetable or mushroom stock
- 150 ml heavy cream or creme fraiche
Dry Ingredients
- 1 tbsp plain flour
Beans
- 570 g jarred butter beans, drained
Seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Caramelize the onions: Heat the olive oil and butter in a large pan over low heat. Add the diced white onion and cook slowly for at least 30 minutes, ideally 45 minutes or more, stirring often to ensure the onions caramelize evenly without burning. The onions should become golden brown and jammy in texture.
- Add garlic: Once the onions are caramelized, add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add flour and rosemary: Stir in the plain flour and diced rosemary, cooking for 1-2 minutes to cook off the raw flour taste.
- Deglaze with balsamic vinegar: Pour in the balsamic vinegar and stir well, using the spoon to loosen any caramelized bits stuck to the bottom of the pan to infuse flavor into the dish.
- Simmer beans and stock: Add the drained butter beans and vegetable or mushroom stock. Stir to combine and simmer gently for 10 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken to a medium caramel-brown color. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add cream and finish simmering: Pour in the heavy cream or creme fraiche and continue simmering for another 5 minutes to meld the flavors and achieve a rich, creamy texture.
Notes
- Caramelizing onions is a slow process that builds deep flavor; consider preparing extra caramelized onions ahead of time for convenience in other recipes.
- You can substitute heavy cream with creme fraiche for a tangier taste and creaminess.
- For a vegan version, replace butter with plant-based margarine and cream with coconut cream or a nut-based cream alternative, and use olive oil only.
- Be sure to stir frequently during caramelization to prevent onions from burning.
- Adjust the seasoning at the end to taste, as balsamic vinegar and stock can add varying saltiness.
Find it online: https://marthatasty.com/french-onion-butter-beans-recipe/
