Creamy Stewed Zucchini and White Beans (vegan)
Tender stewed zucchini and creamy white beans simmered with garlic, olive oil, fresh herbs, and lemon zest. This easy one-pan vegan recipe is comforting and delicious with crusty bread or your favorite grain.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 6-8 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 4-5 medium zucchini, diced or thinly sliced
- 2 cans large white beans, such as butter beans or gigante beans, undrained (about 14–15 oz / 400–425 g each)
- 1 small jar small white beans, undrained (about 6–7 oz / 170–200 g)
- 1 tablespoon frozen chopped basil (or a handful of fresh basil leaves)
- 5 fresh parsley sprigs, leaves only, chopped
- 1 tablespoon vegetable bouillon powder (or a bit more, to taste)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Lemon juice, to taste (optional)
Optional for extra creaminess:
- 1 tablespoon cashew butter, white almond butter, or about 3 tablespoons plant-based cream
Optional for serving:
- 1 handful chopped walnuts, almonds, or Brazil nuts
- Crusty bread or wholegrain bread
Instructions
Cook the zucchini and garlic.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet.
- Add the chopped garlic and zucchini at the same time. Cooking them together prevents the garlic from burning while the zucchini slowly releases its moisture.
- Cook for about 20 minutes over medium heat until the zucchini becomes tender and the garlic smells wonderfully fragrant.
Add the beans and seasonings.
- Stir in the beans together with their liquid, basil, parsley, vegetable stock powder and lemon zest.
Simmer until creamy.
- Simmer gently for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Use a fork to mash some of the beans directly in the skillet to thicken the sauce.
- Season to your taste with salt and pepper.
- Taste before adding lemon juice, you may find the lemon zest already provides enough freshness.
- For an extra luxurious version, stir in some cashew butter, almond butter or plant cream.
- Serve topped with chopped nuts if you like.