The Creamiest Butter Beans with Ricotta, Lemon + Basil Pesto Recipe

Smooth and creamy butter beans dance with zesty ricotta in a Mediterranean-inspired melody that whispers summer’s secrets.

Soft herbs and bright citrus weave through each luxurious bite.

Rustic ingredients come together like old friends reuniting on your plate.

Pesto brings a verdant energy that transforms simple legumes into something magical.

Fresh basil leaves scatter their aromatic charm across this delightful canvas.

Herb-infused elegance meets comfort food in a recipe that feels both sophisticated and deeply satisfying.

What Makes Butter Beans with Ricotta, Lemon + Basil Pesto Special

• Whip Up Effortlessly: Super simple recipe requiring minimal cooking skills, perfect for beginners wanting to create a stunning dish without complex techniques.
• Quick Gourmet Magic: Preparation takes less than 15 minutes, delivering restaurant-quality presentation with minimal effort, making it ideal for spontaneous meals or last-minute entertaining.
• Nutrition-Packed Delight: Combines protein-rich butter beans with fresh basil and creamy ricotta, offering a balanced, nutrient-dense meal that feels indulgent yet healthy for wellness-focused individuals.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Adaptable for various occasions like casual lunch, elegant dinner party, or summer potluck, appealing to different dietary preferences including vegetarian and gluten-free diets.

Inside Butter Beans with Ricotta, Lemon + Basil Pesto

Main Components:

Butter Beans: Creamy and hearty legume, perfect base for this dish. Best when using tender, well-cooked beans.

Ricotta Cheese: Soft, smooth cheese that adds a rich and creamy texture. Fresh ricotta provides the best flavor.

• Ricotta, Butter Beans: Mild, comforting base that pairs beautifully with bright pesto flavors.

Pesto Elements:

Pine Nuts: Nutty and buttery ingredient that adds depth to the pesto. Toasting enhances their natural flavor.

Fresh Basil: Aromatic herb that gives the pesto its classic green color and fresh taste. Choose vibrant, fragrant leaves.

Parmesan Cheese: Sharp, salty cheese that provides depth to the pesto. Freshly grated gives the best flavor.

Garlic: Adds a pungent kick to the pesto. Fresh garlic or wild garlic works well.

• Pine Nuts, Fresh Basil, Parmesan Cheese, Garlic: Blend together to create a classic, flavorful pesto.

Finishing Touches:

Olive Oil: Helps bind the pesto and adds a smooth, rich finish. Use good quality extra virgin olive oil.

Lemon: Provides bright, citrusy notes. Fresh lemon juice and zest add zinginess to the dish.

Black Pepper: Adds a subtle heat and complexity. Freshly cracked pepper is best.

Butter Bean Instructions with Ricotta & Basil Pesto

Step 1: Blend Vibrant Pesto

• Pine nuts
• Fresh basil leaves
• Garlic cloves
• Parmesan cheese
• Olive oil

Toss all ingredients into a blender or food processor.

Pulse and blend until the mixture transforms into a silky, bright green pesto.

If the consistency seems too thick, splash in a bit more olive oil to create a smooth sauce that easily coats ingredients.

Step 2: Arrange Creamy Butter Beans

Spread butter beans across a beautiful serving platter, creating an inviting canvas for the upcoming flavors.

Generously dollop creamy ricotta cheese over the beans, allowing soft white peaks to contrast against the beans’ earthy tones.

Step 3: Dress with Zesty Finishing Touches

Drizzle the freshly made basil pesto across the beans and ricotta.

Zest a lemon directly over the dish, letting the citrusy oils dance across the surface.

Squeeze fresh lemon juice to add brightness and depth.

Crack black pepper over the top for a subtle kick and finish with a final drizzle of golden olive oil.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

Present the dish immediately while the flavors are vibrant and ingredients are at their peak.

This stunning plate combines creamy, herbal, and tangy elements that will delight every taste bud.

Butter Bean Bowl Tips with Ricotta and Basil Pesto

• Adjust olive oil gradually to achieve your preferred pesto consistency, ensuring it's not too runny or too thick.
• Toast pine nuts before blending to enhance their nutty richness and release deeper, more complex flavors.
• Use room temperature ricotta for smoother spreading and better integration with butter beans.
• Grate fresh lemon zest just before serving to preserve bright, zesty aromatics and maximize citrus notes.
• Swap Parmesan with nutritional yeast for a vegan version or use gluten-free alternatives to make the recipe more inclusive.

Keep Butter Beans with Ricotta Fresh

• Store leftover butter beans and pesto in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep ricotta in a sealed container to maintain freshness.
• Gently warm beans in a skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Add a splash of water if needed to prevent drying out.
• Bring pesto and ricotta to room temperature before serving to restore original flavors and creamy texture.
• Enjoy the dish chilled as a refreshing salad-style option, perfect for quick lunches or light meals.

What to Plate with Butter Beans and Ricotta

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Select a zesty Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc to complement the bright, herbal flavors of the basil pesto and cut through the creamy ricotta.
• Serve with Crusty Sourdough Bread: Toasted slices provide a perfect crunchy vessel for scooping up the creamy beans, ricotta, and vibrant pesto, enhancing the overall texture experience.
• Match with Fresh Arugula Salad: Create a light side salad with peppery arugula, lemon vinaigrette, and shaved Parmesan to echo the dish's lemony and herbal notes while adding a refreshing contrast.
• Enhance with Grilled Prosciutto Crostini: Add thin, crispy prosciutto-topped crostini to introduce a salty, meaty element that balances the creamy and herbaceous components of the butter bean dish.

Butter Beans with Ricotta Pesto Style Variations

• Vegan Pesto Swap: Replace ricotta with cashew cream and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan for a dairy-free version.
• Herb Garden Mix: Substitute basil with a blend of parsley, mint, and dill to create a fresh herbal pesto variation.
• Gluten-Free Friendly: Ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free and use tamari instead of traditional soy-based seasonings.
• Low-Carb Alternative: Replace butter beans with roasted cauliflower florets or steamed zucchini for a lighter, lower-carbohydrate option.

FAQs

• What are butter beans, and how do they differ from other beans?

Butter beans are large, creamy, white beans also known as lima beans. They have a smooth, buttery texture and mild flavor, making them different from firmer beans like kidney or black beans.

• Is this recipe suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, this recipe is completely vegetarian. It features butter beans, ricotta cheese, and a basil pesto that can be made without meat, offering a protein-rich and flavorful dish.

• Can I make this recipe vegan?

To make it vegan, replace ricotta with a plant-based cheese alternative and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan in the pesto. The core recipe remains very similar to the original.

• How healthy are butter beans in this recipe?

Butter beans are incredibly nutritious, packed with protein, fiber, and essential minerals like iron and magnesium. They are low in fat and help support digestive health and stable blood sugar levels.

Butter Beans With Ricotta, Lemon + Basil Pesto Recipe

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4.7 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Creamy butter beans dance with zesty lemon and fragrant basil pesto in this Mediterranean-inspired masterpiece. Delicate ricotta adds luxurious richness, inviting you to savor each memorable bite of culinary comfort.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 jar butter beans
• 250 grams (8.8 ounces) ricotta cheese
• 1 large bunch fresh basil (approximately 15 grams)
• 1 lemon

Nuts and Cheese:

• 1 handful toasted pine nuts
• 25 grams (0.88 ounces) Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 garlic clove, crushed

Oils and Additional Items:

• 45 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra to serve
• Crusty bread

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Instructions

1. Pulverize pine nuts, basil, garlic, Parmesan, and olive oil in a blender until achieving a silky, vibrant green pesto texture, adjusting consistency with additional olive oil if necessary.
2. Transfer plump butter beans onto a wide ceramic platter, creating an inviting landscape of creamy legumes.
3. Artfully distribute soft, cloud-like ricotta across the surface of the beans, creating gentle mounds of pure white.
4. Cascade the freshly crafted basil pesto over the beans and ricotta, allowing the emerald sauce to weave between the ingredients.
5. Enhance the dish with delicate ribbons of lemon zest, carefully scattered to provide bright, citrusy notes.
6. Drizzle a whisper of premium olive oil across the platter, ensuring each element glistens with a luxurious sheen.
7. Conclude by grinding fresh black pepper with a flourish, adding a subtle warmth and piquant undertone to the harmonious composition.

Notes

• Toast pine nuts carefully to enhance their nutty flavor without burning, watching them closely in the pan.
• Experiment with different herbs like mint or parsley if basil isn’t available, keeping the fresh green essence of the pesto.
• Create a dairy-free version by replacing ricotta with cashew cream or silken tofu for a vegan-friendly alternative.
• Adjust pesto consistency by gradually adding olive oil, ensuring a smooth but not overly runny texture that clings perfectly to the beans.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 300mg
• Fat: 35g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fiber: 8g
• Protein: 15g
• Cholesterol: 40mg