Trust me on this white bean mash. Please, please trust me on this!

Would you like to see my normally-highly-classified notes on this recipe? Are you sure you’re ready for such long-winded, scintillating reading? Okay then. Here goes. My notes on this white bean mash:

“DIVINE.”

So, back to the trust. You see a green-speckled beige sort of pile, right? I know, I know … but please look beyond this. Think of my recipe notes. Err, note. Just trust me.  

Simply Divine Mashed White Beans with Spinach, Garlic, and Lemon recipe - 10 minutes to pure bliss. This deceptively simple dish comes together uber quickly. And though it might not be much to look at, trust me. It tastes utterly divine. Vegan, GF.

Nigella Lawson introduced me to the concept of mashed white beans as a side (or, for me, a main), via one of her TV shows several years ago. It was a brilliant discovery. I could take a can of cannellini beans from plain to perfection within a matter of minutes. All it took was a skillet, a fork, a little olive oil, some garlic, a bit of lemon, and a sprinkling of coarse salt.

Simply Divine Mashed White Beans with Spinach, Garlic, and Lemon recipe - 10 minutes to pure bliss. This deceptively simple dish comes together uber quickly. And though it might not be much to look at, trust me. It tastes utterly divine. Vegan, GF.

Like, seriously. Totes. (I had to use “totes” just once in my life). This here pile of mashed beans is pure bliss.

Spinach adds a bit of nutrition and color; lemon zest brightens. Garlic does its garlic thing, olive oil creates blissful magic. You mash it all together with a fork, scoop it into a bowl, and squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the top. Drizzle with some more olive oil. Sprinkle with a tad more salt. Maybe butter a piece of crusty bread to go alongside.

Simply Divine Mashed White Beans with Spinach, Garlic, and Lemon recipe - 10 minutes to pure bliss. This deceptively simple dish comes together uber quickly. And though it might not be much to look at, trust me. It tastes utterly divine. Vegan, GF.

Nigella served her version of cannellini bean mash alongside steak. And, indeed, this is an ideal side for a steak dinner. But for this-here vegetarian, this cannellini beans and spinach recipe is also the perfect main dish. So on the rare (no pun intended) occasion that my resident carnivore hubby craves a steak, this ends up being a great accompaniment for his meal – and surprisingly incredible meal-in-itself for moi.

Simply Divine Mashed White Beans with Spinach, Garlic, and Lemon from kitchentreaty.com
5 from 4 votes

White Bean Mash with Garlic & Spinach

Prep: 7 minutes
Cook: 3 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Author: Kare
Yield: 2
10 minutes to pure bliss. This deceptively simple dish comes together uber quickly. And though it might not be much to look at, trust me. It tastes utterly divine.
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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil plus more for drizzling over the top
  • 2 cups packed baby spinach (roughly chopped)
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 medium garlic cloves)
  • 1 lemon (medium size will do, zested and halved)
  • 2 cups cooked cannellini beans (or 1 15-ounce can, drained)
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt (plus more for sprinkling on top)
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into In a medium saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the spinach, garlic, and lemon zest. Saute, stirring occasionally, until spinach is wilted, about 1 minute.
  • Add the beans, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and a couple turns of freshly ground black pepper. Mash beans with a fork until the consistency of (very) lumpy mashed potatoes.
  • Divide between two bowls (or just pile them into one bowl and keep them all to yourself). Squeeze a lemon half over each serving, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with a little more salt and pepper to taste. Serve at once.

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