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Last updated on June 29th, 2022 at 03:20 pm
Okay, I could’ve easily named this 5-minute white bean recipe, but, but, doesn’t cannellini just sound SO MUCH better and pretentious? White bean sounds like…”Well, you know you’re gonna be farting in your sleep tonight…” While cannellini sounds sophisticated, fancy and like something people would drink with red wine or something. Cannellini! Now do it with an Italian accent! CANNELLINI! And you have to do something with your hands, as if you’re explaining something to someone really stupid who doesn’t understand.
When I think of cannellini I think of cannoli, which is a super delicious pastry that much like Al Pacino’s parents comes from Sicily.
I first had cannoli when I was in Sicily 4 years ago, it was a time of many firsts. First time to a volcano (Etna), first time seeing 2 people being hit by a car while crossing the street, dusting themselves off and moving on with their day (trauma for life), first time seeing someone jerk off in public. Okay, unfortunately not the first time, but it was quite traumatic as well.
Still, I’d go to Sicily tomorrow if I had the chance. It’s so beautiful, warm, Etna’s smoking and the food is pretty amazing. But here I am writing about white beans, with very dirty hair on a hot summer day. Dream big.
But, I do think you’ll like these white beans.
How To Make Cannellini in 5 Minutes?
Simple. Get a can of cannellini, open it and smell it.
Doesn’t smell like lilies right?
Well, now it’s time to face the tough part. Getting rid of that liquid surrounding the beans. I know, it looks very appetizing, but before you decide to make a latte with it, hear me out. It doesn’t taste good.
It’s better if you just rinse and then drain the beans. Forget about that slime – say goodbye, so you can both move on.
Now that we have sparkling clean white beans it’s time to heat them in a non-stick pan with some coconut oil or olive oil. Some people say frying with olive oil is more poisonous than being bitten by a viper snake, I wonder how the poor people in Spain and Greece survived all those olive oil attacks during the years.
Look now you got distracted and forgot to chop 1/2 onion and to mince one garlic clove. I hate to be the responsible one here. So, please, chop chop.
Okay, before the cannellini, add the onion and the garlic to the pan, let that saute for 1-2 minutes. Then put in the cannellini and stir them.
Now it’s time for the really tough part! The spices. I decided to add dry mint, basil, coriander, and cumin because those seem to be my go-to herbs and spices right now.
Stir to cover each sad little white bean in herbs and spices and turn the heat off.
You can eat these white beans like this, or, orrr, you can decide to invest 10 minutes and make a small tomato cucumber salad and some tzatziki, which isn’t vegan, but if you are – I have a vegan recipe here. If you’re not, just mix some yogurt with chopped cucumber and garlic, add salt – ready!
So, I don’t know, maybe there’ll be another person who ends up without anything to eat at home but a can of beans. This recipe’s for you. I have only love, respect and understanding for you.
Yield: 2
5-Minute Cannellini Recipe
Super simple cannellini bean recipe! Make these white beans in under 10 minutes (you can try for 5), when you have nothing to eat at home. Or in those situations you actually crave a can of white beans. Serve with some salad and vegan tzatziki for a full vegan dinner!
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup cannellini beans, canned
- 1/2 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp mint
- 1/2 tsp basil
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- optional: red pepper flakes
- olive oil (or coconut oil)
- 1/2 onion
- 1 garlic clove
Instructions
- Rinse and drain cannellini, chop the onion, mince the garlic.
- In a non-stick pan - saute the onion and garlic for a minute with some oil.
- Stir in the cannellini beans, let cook for a minute.
- Stir in the spices, making sure to cover each bean.
- Serve with a small tomato cucumber salad, olives (not in the picture) and tzatziki.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2 Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 232Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 448mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 7gSugar: 2gProtein: 10g
I will be back on Thursday with a secret superfood list – I’ve been trying to write that post for I think a year and it’s about only 7 foods, so you can see I’m a productive human who can’t get distracted by anything. Hopefully, it’s done on Thursday.
FAQs
Cannellini Beans are larger and heartier than Great Northerns and are sometimes referred to as “white kidney beans” because of their traditional kidney shape. You'll often find them mixed with pinto beans.
Are cannellini beans healthy? ›
Cannellini beans are wonderfully nutritious. They're fat free and an excellent source of fiber, folate, iron and magnesium. One 1/4 cup serving contains 11 grams of protein! Adding nutritious foods like dried cannellini beans to your diet may help control blood sugar levels; talk with your doctor.
Can I substitute cannellini beans for Great Northern? ›
Cannellini and great northern beans are similar but they do have subtle differences in flavor and texture. That said, if it's 30 minutes until dinnertime and you're staring at a can of the "wrong" kind of beans in your pantry, rest assured that you can swap one for another.
Are cannellini beans high in carbs? ›
Nutrition Info
One cup of cannellini beans, boiled and cooked without salt, contains 225 calories, 15.4g of protein, 0.9g of fat, 40.4g of carbohydrates, and 0.6g of sugar. Cannellini beans contain a wealth of B vitamins, including B12. They also provide iron, potassium, zinc, and other essential minerals.
What are cannellini beans called in America? ›
Cannellini Beans: Cannellini beans are a popular white bean native to Southern Italy. They are large and oval in size with a nutty flavor and a creamy texture. Cannellini beans are also called white kidney beans.
Are cannellini beans just white kidney beans? ›
Several types exist, though the most common are cannellini beans, which are also called white kidney beans. Tender, with an earthy, nutty flavor, they make a great addition to soups, stews, chilis, and other dishes. This article reviews the nutrient profile, benefits, and uses of white beans.
What is the healthiest bean you can eat? ›
- Chickpeas. Also known as garbanzo beans, chickpeas are a great source of fiber and protein. ...
- Lentils. Lentils are a great source of vegetarian protein and can be a good addition to soups and stews. ...
- Peas. Peas are also a type of legume. ...
- Kidney beans. ...
- Black beans. ...
- Soybeans. ...
- Pinto beans. ...
- Navy beans.
Eating these beans can help you lose weight because of the way they inhibit your body from absorbing excess carbohydrates. The antioxidant content of cannellini beans allows them to help keep your heart healthy while also protecting your eyes. Cannellini may effectively regulate blood glucose levels as well.
Which is better for you chickpeas or cannellini beans? ›
Cannellini beans are high in fibre and contain vitamin C as well as magnesium, a mineral that helps our muscles to function properly. Chickpeas are a good source of fibre and contain more than 10 different micronutrients, including copper, which keeps our skin and hair healthy.
Why are cannellini beans hard to find? ›
There were two reasons for the shortage. The first was poor weather conditions in the Upper Midwest, where most of the nation's supply of cannellini beans are grown. The second was increased demand, which took the company by surprise.
Baby lima beans are the pièce de résistance of creamy white beans if you ask me, but aren't always the easiest to find, especially canned. Any white beans will do, whether cannellini, Great Northern, or navy beans. Use your favorite brand. Some canned beans are more tender, while others tend to be a bit tough.
What is the name of the navy bean? ›
The navy bean, haricot, pearl haricot bean, Boston bean, white pea bean, or pea bean is a variety of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) native to the Americas, where it was first domesticated. It is a dry white bean that is smaller than many other types of white beans, and has an oval, slightly flattened shape.
Are cannellini beans anti inflammatory? ›
Low-calorie, nutrient-dense cannellini beans and other legumes are packed with disease-fighting antioxidants, have anti-inflammatory properties and have even been found to help people with diabetes (about half of whom also have arthritis).
Do cannellini beans make you gassy? ›
Cannellini, pinto, black, kidney, and lima. The list of beans is long. Although they're all subtly different, they have at least three things in common: They're delicious, nutritious, and have a bad reputation for promoting farts.
What is the healthiest white bean? ›
All beans are rich in fiber, but the top-ranking variety is the navy bean, allegedly named for its popularity in the U.S. Navy in the early 20th century. These pea-sized, cream-colored beans provide 10 grams of fiber per half-cup serving.
What is another name for great white northern beans? ›
Great Northerns are called “common beans” and are botanically classified as Phaseolus vulgaris alongside red kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, pink beans, and navy beans. These so-called common beans were spread through Central and South America by migrating farmers.
What are great northern beans good for? ›
Adding these beans to your diet can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. They can also lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Adding these beans to your diet is a good way to increase the amount of fiber in your diet. Fiber helps support heart and digestive health.
Which white beans are the healthiest? ›
All beans are rich in fiber, but the top-ranking variety is the navy bean, allegedly named for its popularity in the U.S. Navy in the early 20th century. These pea-sized, cream-colored beans provide 10 grams of fiber per half-cup serving.
Are cannellini beans also called navy beans? ›
Due to their creamy white color, navy beans are sometimes confused with other white beans such as great northern beans, cannellini beans, or white kidney beans. Although their taste is similar, navy beans are smaller and rounder than these other varieties.
