Creamy Butter Beans With Caramelized Leeks

Beans are a rockstar for hormone health because they're super nutrient dense, support a healthy gut microbiome, blood sugar friendly, EASY to cook, inexpensive, and you can keep them in your pantry for basically ever (literally a win on every front!)

In just 1/2 cup of navy* beans, you can find:

• 9 grams fiber

• 7.5 grams protein
  

• 23 grams complex carbs

• Plus vitamins and minerals such as Folate (vitamin B9), Thiamine (vitamin B1) Iron, Magnesium, and Manganese.

(*note- they're called navy beans but they're actually white in color)

The only issue is that a lot of people tell me they don't love the taste of beans...

...and I'm with you! Plain beans are gross 🤢

But you have to try this recipe! Because these buttery beans are so creamy and full of flavor, they're almost giving a risotto vibe.

Here's how I make them:

Ingredients:

• 1 medium leek, green leaves trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices

• 6 tbsp olive oil

• salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

• Two 14-oz cans of navy or cannelloni beans

• 1 onion, finely diced

• 3-4 cloves garlic, minced

• handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped

• 1 red chili pepper, diced (optional) or use 1 red bell pepper if you don't like spicy

• 2 TBSP nutritional yeast

• 1 tsp miso paste (dissolve in 1 tbsp hot water)

• 1 tbsp coconut aminos or soy sauce

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1/2 medium lemon- squeezed

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large, deep pan over a medium flame.

2. Add leek slices and add salt and pepper. Reduce flame to low. Try to keep each circle of leek intact. Let it cook for about 5 minutes on each side, or until caramelized. Use kitchen tongs to flip and then cook for 5 minutes on the other side. Once cooked, remove from heat and place on a plate.

3. Add onion, garlic, parsley, chili or bell pepper, and sauté for 5 minutes.

4. Add the beans WITH the liquid- don't drain. Stir all ingredients together.

5. Add nutritional yeast, miso, coconut aminos, garlic powder, and lemon juice.

6. Let cook until the liquid reduces a but, about 10 minutes.

7. Feel free to add more salt and pepper if desired.

8. Once the beans get to a thick, creamy consistency, remove from heat and add to a baking dish.

9. Top with leeks, fresh parsley, and red chili flakes, and enjoy!