A wonderfully delicious vegan side dish, this butter bean mash recipe is easy to make and hard to resist. It's light yet creamy, healthy yet full of flavor, and makes the ideal sidekick to a rich roast, stew, or hearty main.
This is the perfect side dish recipe if you're bored of regular old mash. Best of all, it takes just a few minutes to put together.
Why you'll love this creamy butter bean mash recipe
- It's a quick and easy recipe that uses only a handful of ingredients.
- It makes a great low-carb alternative to regular mashed potatoes.
- Only seven ingredients are needed, all fresh and healthy.
- It only takes minutes to prepare, making it an excellent choice to add to your weekly meal plan.
- It's 100% gluten-free and completely vegan.
Equipment needed
There are a few important pieces of equipment that you'll need for this recipe:
- Medium saucepan – use a high quality medium saucepan to make this butter bean mash
- Food processor – whizz up your mash until it's soft and creamy.
- Potato masher – using a strong and sturdy potato masher means you can get a more rustic consistency
How to make butter bean mash
You need onions, olive oil, garlic, butter beans, vegetable stock and a herb such as rosemary or thyme.
Gently fry the onions and garlic in the oil.
Continue cooking until the onion is caramelised and completely cooked and sweet.
Simmer until all the flavors have combined. Remove the rosemary and pulse in a food processor until the desired consistency is achieved. Enjoy!
Top tips
Use fresh rosemary to infuse a better herbal flavor into this dish.
What to serve with butter bean mash
This sensational side is perfect when served with a rich, comforting main dish. Think roast lamb, fish, or a delicious nut roast alongside a wonderful roast marrow side dish and other vegetables for a proper feast!
It also pairs wonderfully well with grilled vegetables, roasted meats or even as a base layer for a healthy, restorative veggie bowl.
Variations to this recipe
Smoky
Give this butter bean mash a wonderful smoky flavor with the addition of a teaspoon of smoked paprika. You can use sweet or hot paprika, whichever you prefer.
This addition can be particularly effective when paired with the right main. Think of a steamed fish or grilled chicken dish, which would suit the slightly smoky flavor of a butter bean mash with paprika.
Extra lemony
The lemon juice works beautifully with butter bean mash, giving it a fresh citrus taste that is particularly delicious with chicken and fish mains. If you love lemon, take things up a notch with the addition of lemon zest.
Popular substitutions
Different beans
You can use many different beans for this bean mash recipe. Try some of the following:
Cannellini beans
These are large and white. Soft and mild in texture, they are creamy and delicious, perfect when flavored with herbs, lemon, and garlic.
Black beans
Earthy and slightly sweet, these are commonly used in Mexican cooking.
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Pinto beans
Another common Mexican bean, pinto beans, are typically used in enchiladas and chili con carne. They are a decent substitute for butter beans but aren't as creamy.
Chickpeas
These are delicious when mashed up and mixed with oil, herbs, garlic, and lemon.
Kidney beans
Red in color, kidney beans fall apart and are mushy when cooked. They are commonly used in Indian cooking and are a decent substitute for butter bean mash.
Herbs
My recipe involves a herby butter bean mash using rosemary — however, the butter bean mash works with any herb. For example, the butter bean also pairs well with fresh parsley, coriander, oregano, sage, and chives, basically, with any common herb.
Spices
The butter bean mash also works very well with spices. To send this plateful in a Middle Eastern direction, add a touch of cumin powder, ground coriander powder, and a hint of sumac for some acidity. Sprinkle some white sesame seeds and finish with some pomegranate seeds.
Make it meaty
You can add a carnivorous twist if vegan mash doesn't do it for you. I highly recommend frying up some bacon or pancetta and adding to your taste.
Spring onions
For a lighter onion taste, swap the fresh onions for spring onion. Instead of sautéing it, add the chopped spring onion to the mash at the end of the cooking process.
Roasted garlic
I highly recommend roasting the garlic on low heat in the oven first. The garlic will add a sweet note to the butter bean mash – this combination would work very well with thyme.
Top tips
- Use quality extra virgin olive oil to make your butter bean mash special.
- Use younger, fresh rosemary for a nice herbal infusion.
- Be careful with the stock amount. Start with less than the recipe calls, then add more as needed while blending. That way, you'll get the desired consistency.
What are butter beans?
Butter beans are also known as lima beans, sieva beans, or Madagascar beans.
Visually, they are larger than your ordinary bean, and they are white to beige in color. They are known for their soft and creamy texture.
Is butter bean mash gluten free?
Yes, it's gluten-free!
Low-carb sides don't get much better. The beauty of this recipe is that it is perfect for those trying to cut down on bread or heavy butter-filled mashed potatoes. Still, it tastes heavenly!
Do you have to peel butter beans?
Yes. If you're using uncooked butter beans, peeling them before cooking them adds flavor.
What's the difference between butter beans and lima beans?
They are the same thing. Both refer to the bean known as phaseolus lunatus. In the UK, they are most commonly known as butter beans, whereas in the US, people call them lima beans.
How do you cook butter beans?
They must be soaked for 2 hours, then boiled for around 45 minutes.
However, precooked butter beans don't need to be soaked or cooked.
Can I use tinned butter beans?
Yes. Canned beans can be used to make this butter bean mash recipe.
Where do butter beans come from?
Originally, the butter bean came from Latin America. More specifically, from the Andes region. The cultivation of these beans goes back to 2000 B.C.!
In fact, there are two types of butter beans. Some contain small seeds – these are referred to as the sieva type. They are most commonly found from Argentina up to Mexico.
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The second variety includes those beans which contain large seeds. These are known as lima beans.
Today, you can purchase butter beans in canned form. However, it is also not uncommon to purchase them dried. Either type makes an excellent ingredient in stews, soups, casseroles, salads, curries, and, of course, as a mash.
In Spain, a variety of butter beans known as garrofó is just one of the ingredients needed to make the traditional type of Valencian paella.
What are butter beans good for?
You can use butter beans in all kinds of recipes. They are a very popular addition to salads, are delicious when whizzed up and made into a dip, and make a great ingredient for curries, stews, and soups.
How do you store butter bean mash?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge. It will stay fresh for around three days.
Inspired bean recipes
Beans are such a delicious ingredient and perfect for creativity in the kitchen. Try some of these incredible recipes and enjoy the range of amazing flavors that you can achieve with the humble bean:
- Butter bean soup
- Sausage soup with butter beans
- Baked kabocha squash and butter bean soup
- Pork sausage, leek, carrot and butter bean casserole
- Warm butter bean salad
- Butter bean salad with pesto
- White bean dip
📖 Recipe
Butter Bean Mash
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 portions 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
A herby butter bean mash with rosemary. Make this simple and vegan butter bean mash recipe in just a matter of minutes. It is inexpensive and nutritious.
Ingredients
- 30ml olive oil
- 2 onions, peeled and finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
- 1 rosemary, sprig
- 480g cooked butter beans
- 250ml vegetable stock
- 1 lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Preparation: Start by heating the olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Sauté: Add the finely chopped onions, crushed garlic, and rosemary sprig. Fry gently until the onions are soft and caramelized.
- Add Beans and Stock: Stir in the butter beans followed by the vegetable stock. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Season: Drizzle in the fresh lemon juice. Stir well and remove the rosemary sprig.
- Blend: For a smooth texture, transfer the entire mixture to a food processor and blitz until you get a creamy consistency. For a chunkier mash, blend only half the mixture and then combine with the unblended half.
- Serve: Plate your butter bean mash as a delightful side dish. Pair with your main course and savor the flavors.
Notes
- For those who prefer a more rustic feel, mashing the beans manually will give you a coarser texture. Adjust blending to suit your preference.
- Two tins of cooked butter beans were used in this recipe.
- Bean Variations: While this recipe uses butter beans, you can experiment with other types of beans like cannellini, navy, or even chickpeas. Each bean offers a slightly different texture and flavor.
- Freshness Tip: If using fresh rosemary, ensure it's not too woody. Younger sprigs infuse the dish with better flavor.
- Consistency Control: The amount of vegetable stock can be adjusted based on your desired consistency. Start with a little less than the recipe calls for, and add more as needed while blending.
- Seasoning Adjustments: Feel free to adjust the amount of lemon juice, garlic, or even introduce other herbs and seasonings to suit your taste.
- Storing & Reheating: Leftover butter bean mash can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm it on the stove with a splash of water or stock to maintain its creamy consistency.
- Serving Ideas: This mash pairs wonderfully with grilled vegetables, roasted meats, or even as a base layer for a veggie bowl.
- Vegan Friendly: This dish is naturally vegan. Ensure the vegetable stock used doesn't contain any hidden animal-derived ingredients.
- Texture Tip: If mashing manually and finding it hard to get a smooth consistency, a splash of olive oil or a dollop of vegan butter can aid in achieving a creamier texture.
- For the healthiest option that also turns out to be the quickest with the least amount of work, you can simmer the beans for 5 minutes in the vegetable stock before blending it. Essentially you turn it into a fat free mash!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Pan fry
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 221
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 434 mg
- Fat: 8.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29.8 g
- Fiber: 7.4 g
- Protein: 8.9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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Jill
I’m not a fan of butter beans but your recipe made great use of them in a delicious way. Thanks for the inspiration.
Melissa
This was a great substitute for mashed potatoes! I needed to double the recipe but only had one can of butterbeans, so added a can of chickpeas as well. Put it in the food processor & didn’t go as smooth as I wanted but that was probably because I didn’t take the skins off the chickpeas. Definitely a first world problem haha, we all devoured it regardless.
All in all a great recipe & definitely going to make again!
Tari
Excellent idea. Ran out of potatoes and was looking for a substitute for mash and this was just perfect with tender steak and a pepper chilli sauce!
Uwe Heiden
excellent vegan mash!