Orecchiette with Butter Beans, Parsley, Chilli & Lemon Recipe
A vibrant and hearty vegetarian pasta dish featuring orecchiette tossed with a flavorful sauce of butter beans, fresh parsley, chilli, and zesty lemon. This recipe combines simple ingredients to create a satisfying meal that’s perfect for any day of the week.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
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
Optional
- 25g grated parmesan or vegetarian alternative
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orecchiette and cook according to the package instructions, about 10 minutes, until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water for later use.
- Sauté aromatics: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped chillies and crushed garlic cloves and fry for 2 minutes until they soften and release their aroma.
- Add beans and tomatoes: Stir in the drained butter beans, canned cherry tomatoes, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes so the tomatoes reduce slightly and the flavors meld together.
- Incorporate parsley: Sprinkle in the finely chopped parsley and cook the sauce for another 2 minutes to allow the fresh herbaceous flavor to infuse the mixture.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked orecchiette to the frying pan with the butter bean and tomato sauce. If you prefer a looser sauce, pour in a little of the reserved pasta cooking water and gently toss to combine everything evenly.
- Serve: Spoon the pasta mixture into serving bowls and, if desired, sprinkle grated parmesan or a vegetarian cheese alternative on top before serving.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, leave some or all of the chilli seeds in.
- Use gluten-free pasta if you need to accommodate gluten sensitivities.
- The cheese topping is optional and can be omitted or substituted with a vegan alternative.
- Reserve pasta cooking water carefully as it helps loosen the sauce naturally.
- This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the fresh flavors and textures.
Keywords: orecchiette, butter beans, parsley, chilli, lemon, vegetarian pasta, Italian pasta recipe, quick pasta dish
