Orecchiette with Butter Beans, Chili, Parsley, and Lemon Recipe
A vibrant and hearty pasta dish featuring orecchiette tossed with butter beans, fresh parsley, fiery red chillies, and zesty lemon, finished with a sprinkle of grated parmesan for a comforting yet fresh meal perfect for any weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 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
To Serve
- 25g grated parmesan or vegetarian alternative (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the orecchiette following the package instructions until al dente, approximately 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water for later use.
- Prepare Sauce: Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped chillies and crushed garlic, frying gently for 2 minutes until softened but not browned.
- Add Beans and Tomatoes: Stir in the drained butter beans and canned cherry tomatoes along with the lemon zest and juice. Cook the mixture for about 5 minutes, allowing the tomatoes to reduce slightly and the flavors to blend.
- Finish Sauce: Scatter the finely chopped parsley into the pan and cook for an additional 2 minutes to warm through and infuse the sauce with freshness.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained orecchiette to the frying pan with the butter bean mixture. For a looser sauce, add a little of the reserved pasta cooking water. Toss everything together gently to combine and heat through.
- Serve: Spoon the pasta onto serving bowls and sprinkle with grated parmesan or vegetarian alternative if desired. Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- For extra heat, keep some of the chilli seeds or add a pinch of chili flakes.
- The butter beans can be substituted with cannellini beans for a different texture.
- If you want a vegan meal, omit the parmesan or use a plant-based cheese alternative.
- Reserve pasta water is great to adjust the sauce consistency and make it silky.
- This dish is perfect for quick weeknight dinners and pairs well with a simple green salad.
Keywords: orecchiette, butter beans, parsley, chilli, lemon, Italian pasta, vegetarian pasta, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe
