These Spanish Butter Beans were one of my favorite tapas during our Spain travels. They’re packed with flavor from the chorizo, saffron, and those buttery beans. The cherry tomatoes burst as they cook, adding a nice juicy pop to every bite. I love how simple this dish is to make, just throw everything in the pan, let it simmer, and you’ve got a hearty meal or appetizer ready to go. Plus, it’s perfect with a slice of warm crusty bread to soak up all the goodness.
If you ask me, the Mediterranean diet is one of my absolute favorites. There’s just something about how even a simple dish, like beans, can be transformed with Mediterranean flavors. I’ve tried it with Cannellini Beans, and it’s become a family favorite. A generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, plenty of garlic, and fresh herbs really bring the dish to life. It’s such a simple yet flavorful, meatless meal that we all love!
Today, I decided to give the same Mediterranean treatment to butter beans, inspired by how they serve them in Spain. Once again, I went with plenty of olive oil, garlic, fresh produce, and this time their beloved chorizo sausage. It’s super simple, and it comes together quickly. Just let it simmer, and it’s ready to serve with my crusty no-knead bread. It’s a perfect, easy meal, or even a great appetizer served with crostini!
Ingredients Needed
Extra virgin olive oil – This is the base for all of my Mediterranean meals. It’s used for sautéing and brings a smooth, Mediterranean flavor to the dish.
Chorizo sausage – I love the bold, smoky flavor of chorizo in this dish. Sliced thin, it adds depth and richness that really stands out.
Onion – I dice a small onion to bring some sweetness to the dish. You can also use shallots instead.
Bell peppers – I use both green and red bell peppers, diced, for a colorful, slightly sweet crunch that balances the savory chorizo and beans.
Garlic – I love lots of garlic, it’s so essential in Mediterranean cooking.
Tomato sauce – I stir in tomato sauce to add a smooth, tangy base. It ties everything together perfectly. You can also sub this with little bit of tomato paste.
Paprika – I am using sweet Spanish paprika today. For an alternative, you can use sweet Hungarian paprika. The regular paprika you find in supermarkets does not have the same flavor. You can easily find Spanish paprika online. Saying that, you can use regular paprika, but the dish would lack that Spanish flavor.
Saffron – I love adding saffron for its unique, floral aroma and vibrant color. It adds a special touch that makes this dish feel luxurious.
Butter beans – The star of the dish. They are so buttery and creamy.
Chicken broth – I add chicken broth for extra depth of flavor.
Cherry tomatoes – I toss in cherry tomatoes for extra sweetness. As they cook, they burst open and add a juicy, fresh pop to every bite.
Butter Bean Recipe (Spanish Style)
First, I heat up some extra virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil’s nice and hot, I toss in the sliced chorizo and cook it until it’s nicely browned. The chorizo adds such a rich, smoky flavor, and I can already smell it getting delicious. After it’s browned, I remove it from the pan and set it aside.
Next, I reduce the heat to medium and add the diced onion and bell peppers. I let them cook until they start to soften and become fragrant. Then, I throw in the minced garlic and let it cook for another minute, just until it becomes aromatic. I stir in the tomato sauce, Spanish paprika and saffron. I let everything simmer on low for about 2-3 minutes, letting the flavors blend together nicely.
Then, I return the cooked chorizo to the pan, along with the butter beans and chicken broth. I bring it all to a gentle simmer and let it cook for about 10 minutes so everything can meld together.
Finally, I toss in the cherry tomatoes and give everything a good stir. I let it simmer for another 8-10 minutes, just until the tomatoes start to burst and release all their juicy goodness.
Once it’s done, I serve it up immediately, usually with another drizzle of EVOO and some warm crusty no-knead bread to soak up all the flavorful sauce. There you go, one new cracking dish with all the goodness of Spanish flavors ready to wow your friends and family.
Alpana’s Tips
- Use Good Chorizo: I always go for a high-quality chorizo. The better the chorizo, the richer and more flavorful the dish will be. If I can find it, I prefer using Spanish chorizo for that authentic taste.
- Don’t Skip the Saffron: I know saffron can be a bit pricey, but it really makes a difference. It adds a beautiful color and unique aroma that you can’t replicate with anything else. If you don’t have it, try substituting with a pinch of turmeric, but saffron is totally worth it!
- Caramelize the Onion and Peppers: I like to let the onions and bell peppers cook until they’re softened and a little caramelized. It brings out their natural sweetness and gives the stew more depth.
- Simmer, But Don’t Overcook: I try to keep an eye on the stew while it simmers, especially with the cherry tomatoes. I don’t want them to turn into mush, so I let them cook just enough to burst and release their juices.
- Customize the Beans: If I’m not feeling butter beans, I sometimes swap them for cannellini beans or even chickpeas in the same recipe. They all work well with the chorizo and the other ingredients.
This Spanish butter beans dish is a perfect example of how simple ingredients can make a delicious and satisfying meal. The combination of tender butter beans, smoky chorizo and fresh herbs offers a taste of the Mediterranean that’s both hearty and easy to prepare. It’s a straightforward recipe that delivers rich flavors without fuss. Give it a try and let us know how it turns up for you.
Spanish Butter Beans, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!
More great bean and legume recipes:
Great Northern Beans
Marry Me Chickpeas
Cuban Black Beans
Southern Black Eyed Peas
Gigantes Plaki
Peruvian Beans
Habichuelas Guisadas
Red Beans and Rice
Spanish Butter Beans
This easy and tasty Spanish Butter Beans Recipe features tender beans, flavorful chorizo and a variety of spices and aromatics. It's great as a standalone dinner, or part of a tapas spread.
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 8oz chorizo sausage (see note 1), sliced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 small green bell pepper, diced
- 1 small red bell pepper, diced
- 5-6 cloves garlic minced
- 8oz tomato sauce
- 1.5 tsp Spanish paprika (see note 2)
- 8-10 sprigs of saffron
- 2 15oz can butter beans, drained
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 10oz cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Heat extra virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced chorizo and cook until the sausage is browned. Remove it to a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium, add diced onion and peppers to the pan and cook until they begin to soften. Add garlic and cook for a minute.
- Stir in tomato sauce, paprika and saffron. Bring to a low simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Return the sausage to the pan, along with butter beans and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
- Add in cheery tomatoes. Give everything and good stir, then simmer for about 8-10 minutes, until the tomatoes begin to burst.
- Serve immediately with warm crusty bread.
Notes
- Chorizo sausage comes in two varieties. The Spanish variety, which I use here, is hard cured and already cooked. The Mexican variety is not cooked. Make sure to use the Spanish type in this recipe.
- For most authentic flavors, seek out sweet Spanish paprika. For an alternative, you can use sweet Hungarian paprika. The regular paprika you find in supermarkets does not have the same flavor. You can easily find Spanish paprika online. Saying that, you can use regular paprika, but the dish would lack that Spanish flavor.
Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 419Total Fat 20gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 13gCholesterol 34mgSodium 746mgCarbohydrates 40gFiber 12gSugar 9gProtein 22g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.
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