Transform White Beans And Onions Into An Easy, Filling French-Style Dinner

As the late great Anthony Bourdain observed, "Good food is very often, even most often, simple food." Few kitchen staples exemplify this dogma as well as onions and canned beans. These humble pillars are all it takes to capture the lush, dimensional flavor profile of classic French onion soup without any special techniques (or a kitchen torch). Introducing: French onion white beans. In this sophisticated vegetarian dish, a pairing with rich, creamy caramelized onions makes canned beans taste like they were slow-cooked for hours. Plus, this restaurant-worthy meal comes together in a single pan ("hooray" for fewer dishes to wash after dinner).

To make it, slice a few large onions and toss them with olive oil and your choice of spices and aromatics. A bouquet of thyme, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic works fabulously here. You could also incorporate a jar of sun-dried tomatoes into the mix for added flavor, color, and chew. Pro tip: If you use sun-dried tomatoes, coat the onions in some of the oil from the jar and skip the olive oil. From there, simply roast the seasoned onions in a covered dish for about 45 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If you own a Dutch oven, this is a great opportunity to use it. 

Post-roast, stir in the pièce de résistance: The canned white beans. For added creaminess, raid your pantry for a can of coconut milk and stir that into the mix, too. Another 15 minutes in the oven will do the trick, heating the beans and melding them into a cohesive texture with the golden-brown onions.

The secret behind this dish's well-balanced depth of flavor is the caramelized onions. The caramelization process may be time-consuming, but it's an ultra-simple way to transform a basic ingredient without the help of anything extra. As they slow-cook in the fat component, those onions gradually reduce into a tender, translucent texture that marries beautifully with the toothy white beans. Meanwhile, the onions' pungent bite is traded for an enhanced sweetness from its natural sugars. Don't be surprised if this minimal masterpiece makes its way into your white bean recipe rotation.

French onion white beans offer an impressively rich flavor on their own. For even more flair, garnish each plate with cracked black pepper, fresh parsley or tarragon, and shaved Parmesan or (in true French onion soup style) nutty Gruyère. To complete the meal, serve these French onion white beans with a simple green side salad and some crusty bread with European butter. A glass of oaked Chardonnay would provide a full-bodied mouthfeel to enhance the creaminess of the beans, rounding out this simple, yet elevated dish. Alternatively, French onion white beans could even be served as a mature side dish alongside a heartier, meaty entree like duck confit or French cassoulet.

@melissareese711

French Onion White Beans Original Creator @chefvictoriafox Servings: 7 Macros (per serving): Calories: 166 Fat: 6.3g Carbs: 15.7g Protein: 6.9g Ingredients • 3 large yellow onions, sliced • Leaves from a few sprigs of fresh thyme • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (see note) • 1 tsp sea salt • 1 tsp black pepper • 1 tbsp smoked paprika • 1 whole head of garlic • ½ cup coconut milk • 2 (15-oz) cans white beans (cannellini or similar), drained and rinsed • 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped • 1 tbsp sherry vinegar Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Add onions to an oven-safe dish with thyme, sun-dried tomatoes, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Toss to coat evenly. 2. Cut the top off the garlic head and place it in the center of the dish. Drizzle everything with the reserved sun-dried tomato oil. Cover and bake for 45 minutes, stirring once halfway through. 3. Remove from the oven and carefully squeeze the roasted garlic cloves into the onions. 4. Stir in coconut milk, white beans, parsley, and sherry vinegar until combined. 5. Return uncovered to the oven for another 15 minutes, until creamy and heated through. Note: I didn't have sun-dried tomatoes, so I used roasted red peppers instead and added 2 tablespoons of olive oil. #Beantok #GutHealth #BeanRecipes #CalorieDeficit #creatorsearchinsights

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