Caramelized Onion White Beans with Rosemary & Balsamic Recipe
A comforting and flavorful dish featuring caramelized white onions and creamy white beans infused with rosemary and tangy balsamic vinegar. This recipe offers a rich, velvety sauce enhanced with crème fraîche and Pecorino cheese, perfect for serving over crusty sourdough bread as a hearty snack or light meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Herbs
- 1 white onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 sprigs rosemary, diced
Pantry & Dairy
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 400g tins of white beans, drained
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 3 tbsp lighter crème fraîche
- 2 tbsp water
- 20g Pecorino cheese, grated
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: Heat the butter or oil in a casserole dish over low heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and cook for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions soften and turn golden brown. Then, add the balsamic vinegar and continue cooking for an additional 10 minutes to develop deep flavor.
- Add Garlic and Rosemary: Stir in the minced garlic and diced rosemary, cooking for 1 minute more to release their aromas.
- Add White Beans: Tip in the drained white beans. Using the back of your spoon, crush some of the beans to create a thick and creamy sauce texture.
- Incorporate Crème Fraîche and Water: Stir in the crème fraîche and water, continuing to mash some of the beans further to achieve a rich, creamy consistency.
- Finish with Cheese and Seasoning: Grate the Pecorino cheese into the mixture, then season generously with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Spoon the creamy caramelized onion and white bean mixture atop crusty sourdough bread for a delicious, rustic serving suggestion.
Notes
- Caramelizing the onions low and slow is key to developing sweetness and depth of flavor.
- You can prepare the caramelized onions ahead of time to speed up the cooking process later.
- Use good quality canned white beans such as cannellini or navy beans for best texture.
- Adjust the seasoning carefully as the cheese adds saltiness.
- For a vegan version, substitute butter with olive oil and omit the crème fraîche and Pecorino.
- Serve with crusty bread to complete the meal.
Keywords: caramelized onion, white beans, rosemary, balsamic vinegar, creamy sauce, vegetarian, easy recipe, rustic
