These Garlic Butter Beans with Spinach, known in Spain as Alubias de la Granja con Espinacas, are what healthy and delicious food is all about. We´re talking a ton of great flavors, heart-healthy ingredients and all done in just 20 minutes.
These beans can be served warm, at room temperature or even chilled. In Spain they´re typically enjoyed as a side dish, next to some grilled fish. But you can also serve them as a main course, next to a crunchy baguette for a fulfilling and nutritious meal.
For the spinach I used fresh bagged spinach. But you can also use the frozen stuff. Just thaw out beforehand and pat completely dry. For the butter beans I used jarred, which is the same thing as the canned ones. You can also use dried if you like. Just soak overnight and simmer the following day.
TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: I topped off the beans with a kiss of grated Manchego cheese that was aged for 6 months. But you can use whatever type of cheese you like. This dish will hold for up 4 to 5 days in the fridge.
Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY COOKWARE
MY CHEF´S KNIFE
SPANISH OLIVE OIL I USED
SAFFRON
If you´re not already subscribed to my youtube channel, become a subscriber and click on the bell icon to be notified everytime I release a new video.
Support Spain on a Fork. Get your Spain on a Fork Apron and other awesome Merchandise here.
Your SUPPORT Helps Spain on a Fork Keep Going
Join Me on Patreon!
Watch the Video Below on How to Make Garlic Butter Beans with Spinach
Garlic Butter Beans with Spinach
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 30 ml
- 1 can butter beans 20 oz / 570 grams
- 8 cloves garlic
- 5 oz fresh bagged spinach 150 grams
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme .5 grams
- 1/4 tsp saffron threads .17 grams
- 1 cup vegetable broth 240 ml
- 1 oz Manchego cheese 28 grams
- 1 lemon
- pinch sea salt
- dash black pepper
Instructions
-
Drain the beans into a fine sieve and rinse under water, roughly chop the cloves of garlic and roughly chop the spinach
-
Heat a large fry pan with a medium heat and add in the olive oil
-
After a couple of minutes add in the chopped garlic, mix continuously, after 1 minute and the garlic is fragrant, add in the thyme and saffron, quickly mix together, then add in the drained butter beans, broth and season with sea salt & black pepper, gently mix together and then simmer
-
After 5 to 10 minutes and the broth has reduced in half, start adding the chopped spinach and mixing it around that way it easily wilts, do this in batches so the spinach does not overflow out of the pan
-
Once all the spinach has been added and it´s lightly wilted, remove the pan from the heat
-
Transfer into serving dishes, topped off with a kiss of grated cheese and some lemon zest, enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Get the Saffron I used to make this Recipe
Disclosure: At Spain on a Fork, we offer affiliate links to help you find what you need to re-create our recipes. If you like what we do, you can support us through our chosen links, which earn us a commission, but you still pay the same price. Learn more here.
You May Also Like
Deb Taber
18 . Apr . 2024This recipe was so easy to make, it came together quickly, and was utterly delicious! I did not have fresh spinach on hand, but did have frozen and used that. I have printed out this recipe and will be making it often.
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
19 . Apr . 2024Ree
31 . Jan . 2024I made this as a starter for our Christmas day meal. Not a drop of it was left, family devoured it and loved it so much, they want me to make it again. Simple, easy and fast and absolutely delicious. Going to make this again tomorrow night. Thank you for a wonderful and healthy recipe! I need to go through the rest of your page, as I am sure there’s bound to be many more great recipes on here!
Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
01 . Feb . 2024Greg
25 . Dec . 2023Excellent. Wonderful meal and will cook again!
Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Much love 🙂
26 . Dec . 2023Ali
28 . Nov . 2023This was delicious and super easy! Only devation I made was using parm instead of manchego, since I had some on hand
Spain on a Fork
Glad you enjoyed it! Parm is a great sub for Manchego 🙂 Much love
29 . Nov . 2023Ion
21 . Sep . 2023I just got to say one word and one word only
EXCELENT
the only deviation I made to it is that I used chicken broth instead of the vegi broth because that is what I had handy and I used a Idiazabal cheese, which is goat cheese
Give it five minutes after finish cooking for the flavors to merge and this this POPS
Thank you for sharing
Spain on a Fork
Sounds great! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
22 . Sep . 2023Cynthia
18 . Sep . 2023This fits right in my plant based diet. Easy, affordable and delicious. Thank you
Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Much love 🙂
19 . Sep . 2023Prem Singh
Hi, I wonder weather you could add flake almonds for a little nutty sweetness . I don’t want to mess around with your dish if you think this won’t work
13 . Sep . 2023Spain on a Fork
You could give it a try!! Much love 🙂
17 . Sep . 2023Pat
11 . Sep . 2023This was delicious! I added finely diced onion. The zested lemon really elevated the flavor. We put ours over brown rice. I will be making this again!
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that!!! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
11 . Sep . 2023Ramya
Cant wait to make this soon for me i never had garlic butter beans with spinach before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
11 . Sep . 2023Spain on a Fork
Sounds great Ramya! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
11 . Sep . 2023