Caramelized Onion White Beans with Rosemary & Balsamic Recipe
A comforting and flavorful dish featuring caramelized white onions and creamy white beans infused with rosemary and a tangy hint of balsamic vinegar, finished with a touch of Pecorino cheese and light creme fraiche. Perfect served on crusty sourdough bread for a hearty snack or light meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish / Light Meal
- Method: Slow Cook / Sauté
- Cuisine: Mediterranean / Italian-inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 white onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 400g tins of white beans, drained (cannellini or navy beans)
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 sprigs rosemary, diced
- 3 tbsp lighter creme fraiche
- 2 tbsp water
- 20g Pecorino cheese, grated
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
Instructions
- Caramelize the Onions: Heat the butter or olive oil in a casserole dish over low heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and cook slowly for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring frequently until the onions are soft and golden brown. Add the balsamic vinegar and continue cooking for an additional 10 minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Add Garlic and Rosemary: Stir in the minced garlic and diced rosemary, cooking for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Incorporate the Beans: Add the drained white beans to the casserole. Using the back of a spoon, gently crush part of the beans to create a thick and creamy sauce while leaving some whole for texture.
- Add Creme Fraiche and Water: Stir in the lighter creme fraiche and water, continuing to mash some of the beans further to reach a luscious, creamy consistency.
- Finish with Cheese and Seasoning: Grate the Pecorino cheese into the mixture and season with salt and black pepper to taste, mixing well to combine all flavors.
- Serve: Spoon the warm caramelized onion white beans over crusty sourdough bread and enjoy immediately as a delicious snack or light meal.
Notes
- Cooking the onions slowly is key to achieving a sweet, deep caramelized flavor.
- You can substitute Pecorino cheese with Parmesan for a similar taste.
- For a vegan version, replace butter with olive oil and use a plant-based creme fraiche substitute.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with crusty or toasted bread for serving.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stove or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (approx. 200g)
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
Keywords: caramelized onions, white beans, rosemary, balsamic vinegar, cream sauce, Pecorino cheese, light meal, vegetarian, easy recipe
