The Best Butter Bean Recipes, According To Chefs

Chef comment provided by Stuart Gillies, chef-owner for Number Eight, Sevenoaks and Bank House, Chislehurst, and Luca Meola, chef-owner of Rossella, Italian restaurant and deli in Kentish Town.

Recently, HuffPost UK asked chefs to share the very best meals they could think to make with rhubarb and leeks.

The seasonal staples are especially delicious in spring and early summer. But what about a good ol’ tin of butter beans, which lasts year-round?

Here, we asked chefs Stuart Gillies and Luca Meola to share their favourite meals to make with this “fibremaxxer’s” fave:

Usually, the classic French salad contains potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, green beans, olives, lettuce, tomato, and tuna.

On top lies a tangy garlic, anchovy, mustard, vinegar, and olive oil dressing.

But for a “creamier” version, chef Gillies said you can’t go wrong with a can of butter beans in place of the usual spuds.

“I love adding them into a Niçoise-style salad ― they bring a natural creaminess and make the dish feel more substantial, while still keeping it fresh and balanced,” he told us.

“Tossed with green beans, tomatoes, olives and a sharp vinaigrette, it’s a really satisfying, protein-rich plate that works perfectly for warmer days.”

One of my favourite lunches of all time is a leek and butter bean dish that takes less than 15 minutes to whip up. Another beloved version is “marry me” butterbeans, which basically just means cooking them in tomato sauce and adding something creamy and/or cheesy at the end.

Chef Meola takes a similarly minimalist approach.

“Butter beans are great cooked slowly with garlic, olive oil and a bit of rosemary until they go really soft and creamy,” he told us.

“Finish with good olive oil, and that’s pretty much it.”

He didn’t explicitly mention eating that with a hunk of crusty bread, but we’ll be trying it that way anyway.