Description
This vibrant and hearty Orecchiette with butter beans, parsley, chilli, and lemon is a simple yet flavorful Italian-inspired pasta dish. Combining tender orecchiette pasta with a zesty sauce of butter beans, fresh parsley, and a touch of chilli and lemon, it offers a perfect balance of spice, freshness, and creaminess. This recipe is quick to prepare and ideal for a satisfying weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 400g orecchiette
Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 red chillies, deseeded and finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 400g can butter beans, drained and rinsed
- 400g can cherry tomatoes
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- ½ large bunch of parsley, finely chopped
To Serve
- 25g grated parmesan or vegetarian alternative (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the orecchiette according to the package instructions until al dente, approximately 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water for later use.
- Prepare the sauce base: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped chillies and crushed garlic, frying gently for about 2 minutes until they just soften and release their aromas.
- Combine main ingredients: Stir in the drained butter beans and canned cherry tomatoes. Add the lemon zest and lemon juice to the pan, then cook for an additional 5 minutes to allow the tomatoes to slightly reduce and the flavors to meld.
- Finish the sauce: Sprinkle the chopped parsley into the pan and cook for another 2 minutes, warming the beans through and enhancing freshness and color.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the drained orecchiette to the frying pan with the butter bean mixture. If desired, pour in a little reserved pasta cooking water to loosen the sauce to your preferred consistency. Stir gently to combine all ingredients well.
- Serve: Spoon the pasta into serving bowls and, if you like, sprinkle grated parmesan or vegetarian alternative on top just before serving.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, leave the chilli seeds in or add more chillies.
- You can substitute butter beans with cannellini beans or chickpeas if preferred.
- To make this dish vegan, omit the parmesan cheese or use a plant-based alternative.
- Reserve the pasta cooking water as it contains starch that helps to create a silky sauce texture when combined with the ingredients.
- This recipe can be prepared ahead by making the sauce in advance and warming with freshly cooked pasta before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: orecchiette, butter beans, pasta recipe, vegetarian pasta, Italian pasta, chilli, lemon, quick dinner
