Description
This Creamy Italian Bean Skillet is your new budget-friendly comfort food obsession: rich, velvety, and downright lusciously creamy in every spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Skillet Ingredients:
- 1 medium yellow onion, fine dice
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth *
- 1 cup water
Spice/Herb Ingredients:
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian Seasoning Mix (+/-)
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (+/-)
- Pinch to 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (+/-)
- Pinch to 1 teaspoon sea salt (+/-) *
Other Ingredients:
- ½ cup [raw] cashews *
- 2 – [ 15.5 oz. can ] white beans, drained and rinsed *
- ½ cup finely diced roasted red bell peppers *
Serving Ideas:
- Steamed Rice/quinoa
- Chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Place the cashews into a small bowl, cover with boiling water, then allow to sit for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, drain off the water (discard) and set aside.
- Place all the Spice/Herb Ingredients into a small bowl, mix well, set aside.
- In a large skillet, add the finely diced onions, sauté over medium-high heat for 7 to 9 minutes, add a splash of water, if needed to avoid burning.
- Then lower the heat to medium, add the minced garlic and tomato paste, sauté, stir constantly for one minute.
- Then add all the remaining Skillet Ingredients, stir well, bring to a boil, then immediately lower to a simmer and simmer for 3 minutes.
- Then remove the skillet from the stove and allow to cool for several minutes; then scoop the skillet mixture into a high-speed blender along with the soaked cashews. Blend on high until smooth and emulsified, then return to the skillet.
- Add the beans, finely diced roasted red bell peppers, and the Spice/Herb Mix to the skillet, stir to incorporate, bring to a boil, then immediately lower to a simmer. Simmer for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Taste test, add additional seasonings, if needed. If additional seasonings are added, simmer for several minutes.
- Remove from the stove and allow to rest for 5 minutes, then serve and enjoy!
Notes
Please reference the blog post for Tips for Success, Pantry Products Used, Storage and Freezing, and Kitchen Equipment Used.
Sea Salt: Please adjust the sea salt based upon your family’s sea salt preferences and/or based upon dietary needs.
Serving: 4 (makes 4 ½ cups)