Description
Hearty butterbean vegetable stew brings Mediterranean comfort to your kitchen, blending rustic ingredients with soul-warming flavors. Fragrant herbs and tender vegetables mingle with creamy butterbeans, creating a nourishing meal you’ll crave on cool evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Beans:
- 2 red potatoes, cubed
- 2 zucchini, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 cans butter beans, drained and rinsed
- 250 grams (8.8 ounces) silverbeet (Swiss chard), kale, or frozen spinach, chopped
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 brown onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 5 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Liquid and Grains:
- 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes
- 4 cups vegetable stock or water
- 1/3 cup arborio rice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Serving Suggestions:
- Sourdough bread
- Fresh parsley
- Lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare a robust culinary canvas by heating olive oil in a substantial, weighty pot over moderate heat, gently sautéing diced onions until they become translucent and fragrant.
- Introduce robust root vegetables like carrots and potatoes, allowing them to caramelize and develop deep, rich flavors through gentle stirring.
- Enrich the developing stew by layering in zucchini, minced garlic, butter beans, crushed tomatoes, aromatic sweet paprika, delicate thyme sprigs, and seasoning to create a complex flavor profile.
- Incorporate arborio rice and vegetable stock, stirring thoroughly to integrate all ingredients, then elevate the temperature to trigger a vigorous boil before reducing to a gentle simmer.
- Monitor the stew’s progression, occasionally stirring to prevent adherence to the pot’s bottom, ensuring rice and root vegetables achieve perfect tenderness within 20-25 minutes.
- Eliminate woody thyme stems and gracefully fold verdant silverbeet or alternative leafy greens into the stew, allowing them to wilt and infuse additional nutritional depth.
- Finalize the dish by transferring the aromatic stew into serving vessels, enhancing with a bright citrus burst from fresh lemon juice and garnishing with verdant parsley.
- Present alongside crusty sourdough bread to complement the stew’s rich, comforting essence.
Notes
- Swap arborio rice with quinoa or cauliflower rice for a lower-carb, gluten-free alternative that maintains the stew’s creamy texture.
- Boost protein content by adding cooked chicken, tofu, or tempeh for a heartier meal that satisfies different dietary needs.
- Use fresh thyme leaves instead of sprigs for a more intense herb flavor and easier eating experience without removing woody stems.
- Customize heat levels by adding red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce for those who enjoy spicier vegetable stews.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg