Description
Creamy White Bean and Lemon Pasta is a bright and comforting vegetarian dish featuring a silky bean-based sauce, zesty lemon, and tender pasta. It’s quick, easy, and packed with plant-based protein.
Ingredients
- 340 g dry pasta (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped (about 100 g)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can white beans (400 g can, 240 g drained and rinsed)
- 180 ml vegetable broth
- 120 ml milk or unsweetened plant-based milk
- 60 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
- 30 g grated parmesan-style cheese or vegetarian hard cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 120 ml of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 4–5 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Add the white beans, vegetable broth, and milk to the skillet. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to a blender or use an immersion blender to blend until smooth and creamy.
- Return the sauce to the skillet over low heat. Stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, black pepper, oregano, and chili flakes if using.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a little reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
- Stir in the grated cheese and cook for 1–2 minutes until the sauce is silky.
- Remove from heat and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
- Great for meal prep—store sauce separately if needed.
- Use vegan cheese to make the dish fully plant-based.
- Customize with seasonal vegetables or herbs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 72g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
