Caramelized Onion White Beans with Rosemary & Balsamic Recipe
A comforting and savory dish featuring caramelized white onions, creamy white beans infused with rosemary and balsamic vinegar, finished with Pecorino cheese and crème fraîche. Perfect as a hearty spread over crusty sourdough bread, this recipe offers rich flavors and a creamy texture through slow cooking on the stovetop.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- 1 white onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Main Ingredients
- 2 cans (400g each) white beans, drained
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 sprigs rosemary, diced
- 3 tbsp lighter crème fraîche
- 2 tbsp water
- 20g Pecorino cheese, grated
Seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: In a casserole dish, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil or butter on low heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and cook slowly for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring often, until they soften and turn golden brown.
- Add Balsamic Vinegar: Pour in 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar to the caramelized onions 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.
- Add White Beans and Mash: Add the drained white beans to the pot. Using the back of your spoon, crush some of the beans to create a thick and creamy sauce texture.
- Mix in Crème Fraîche and Water: Stir in 3 tbsp lighter crème fraîche and 2 tbsp water, continuing to mash some of the beans until the sauce is creamy and well combined.
- Season and Finish: Grate 20g Pecorino cheese into the mixture, then season with salt and black pepper to taste. Stir well to incorporate the cheese.
- Serve: Spoon the creamy caramelized onion and white bean mixture over slices of crusty sourdough bread and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Caramelizing the onions low and slow is key to developing deep, sweet flavors.
- Crushing some beans helps to achieve a creamy texture without needing to use a blender.
- Using lighter crème fraîche cuts down on fat but retains creaminess.
- Serve with crusty bread for a complete and satisfying meal.
- This dish can be prepared ahead by caramelizing onions in advance to reduce cooking time on the day of serving.
Keywords: caramelized onions, white beans, rosemary, balsamic vinegar, creamy beans, Pecorino, crème fraîche, vegetarian, comfort food, stovetop recipe
