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–+ servings

Creamy Harissa Butter Beans

Two bowls of creamy harissa butter beans with kale and a side of toast.
Harissa butter beans have creamy butter beans simmered in a harissa-infused sauce. This quick dinner recipe has bold flavors with minimal effort. Dairy free, gluten free, and plant based.
Author: Lindsey Jenkins
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients
 

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 shallots diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 3 tablespoons harissa paste use less if sensitive to heat
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 15 oz cans butter beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • ⅓ cup full fat coconut milk or cream or another creamy non dairy milk
  • 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1 handful curly kale thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • kosher salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • herb of choice: basil, parsley, dill, or mint minced, for garnish

Serving

  • crusty bread

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped shallot and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
  • Stir in the harissa paste and tomato paste. Let cook for 1-2 minutes to allow the flavors to bloom.
  • Stir in the drained butter beans then add the vegetable broth, coconut milk, nutritional yeast, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir to combine and let the sauce simmer for 5–7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the chopped kale until wilted along with the red wine vinegar. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with fresh parsley, basil, dill, or mint. Serve warm with crusty bread.

Notes

See the blog post for helpful tips, storage, and recipe FAQs.

Make It Your Way: Substitutions & Variations

No butter beans? - use other creamy white beans such as cannellini beans, great northern beans, or navy beans.
No shallot? - use half of a yellow, white, or red onion instead.
Can't find harissa? - for a last-minute substitute, you can use a chili paste and add cayenne pepper and smoked paprika, to taste. The smokiness from the smoked paprika with these flavors will create a similar flavor profile.
No coconut milk? - use any creamy non-dairy milk. I love using oat milk.
No red wine vinegar? - use lemon juice.
No kale? - use fresh baby spinach.
Add-ins - red chili flakes for extra heat.