Miso Butter Beans with Thyme and Onions
By: Merritt Allen
Bean side dish recipes are usually, for some reason, never as comforting as I would like. I love a warm bowl of cozy beans that have incredible flavor, are easy to make, and go with your dinner with no questions asked. This one-pot wonder recipe for creamy beans infused with miso butter, thyme, and onions checks all those boxes!
Made in just one-pot on the stove, this bean recipe is the perfect appetizer and side dish as it comes together quickly and clean up is a breeze. This dish makes an excellent holiday side dish as you can make it in advance, it will go with most things on your table, and it makes for great leftovers the next day. The savory flavors of thyme and miso will become a staple and a favorite. I hope you love this creamy bean recipe as much as I do and that it finds a place at your table this season.
Notes and Tips for Miso Butter Beans with Thyme and Onion:
This recipe is versatile and adaptable to any fresh herbs you want to use. Try pairing miso butter with basil, rosemary, or oregano and see how delicious it is!
I like the ratio of 1 whole onion to 2 cans of beans. You can increase the number of onions per bite by doing 1:1.
This dish is wonderful as leftovers! I recommend making this dish the day before to not only save time but to let the flavors really meld!
Try using a micro plane to add your garlic to your pot! You can grate the garlic directly over the pot.
Common Questions For Miso Butter Beans:
What is Miso Butter Made of?
Miso butter is a combination of miso paste and butter. I use white miso paste instead of red miso paste in this recipe. Red miso paste is a bit stronger in flavor, so if you are using red, decrease the miso paste by about 25% to start.
If you want to use leftover miso butter, check out how I use it in scrambled eggs! It makes for a delicious and flavor filled breakfast!
I also use leftover miso butter for miso butter salmon! It is a super fast salmon recipe that even goes with these miso butter infused beans!
Another miso recipe that I have been loving is: Miso Noodles with Green Onion Pesto! These noodles are super savory and served with shrimp!
Do I Have To Use Canned Beans?
Definitely not! I like canned beans since they are easy to find and fast to prepare. If you prefer to use dried beans, allow the soaking time needed to soften the beans prior to cooking. I use (2) cans of beans which is just under 2 pounds total. For dried beans, I suggest using between 1/2 to 3/4 cup dried beans to equal the same amount of canned beans.
If you are looking for broth idea to simmer your beans in, check out my Simply Simmered Red Adzuki Bean Recipe.
If you are using beans you soak overnight, I recommend adding 1 cup of broth or chicken stock with the beans when added to the pot. Canned beans are fully cooked but soaked beans will need more liquid to fully cook.
How Do You Make Beans Taste Good?
Most beans either come canned with little to no flavor or are very salty. To make beans taste good, we need to enhance them with savory flavor and herbs. That is the job of the miso, thyme, and onions in this recipe. Beans can add a ton of creamy goodness to so many dishes or can be tasty all on their own. It is all about simmering them with umami ingredients so they are not watery and boring.
In this recipe we use thyme as the herb. Feel free to test out rosemary, basil, oregano or any other herbs! Let me know what you try in the comments below!
What Flavors Pair Well With Miso?
Miso a savory, salty, and umami filled flavor. Most people have had miso soup which is a miso paste based soup. With that flavor in mind, this recipe is aiming to elevate the savory-ness of the miso and to highlight its flavor as its so subtle and delicious. Creamy flavors like butter go well with miso. Butter has a very high fat content and cuts through the saltiness to deliver a deliciously creamy and yummy flavor. Herbs, like I mentioned above, are added to not only flavor the beans but will also compliment the miso flavor.
What is the Difference Between Canelli Beans vs. Butter Beans:
Both Canelli beans and butter beans are white bean that is smooth in texture. Butter beans, however are much larger than Canelli beans. Butter beans are noted as having a slightly nutty, or even butter flavor while Canelli beans are light and mild.
When deciding between Canelli beans vs. Butter beans for this dish, I like Canelli beans because they absorb the miso butter flavor really well. Both types of beans work well though! Let me know which one you like in the comments, below!
What Other Beans Can I Use?
I use Cannellini and Red Kidney Beans in this recipe. Both are mild in flavor and creamy when simmered down.
If you prefer to use different beans, I have listed some easy substitutions that I have tried, though pretty much any bean will work.
Pinto beans, butter beans, or even chickpeas are easy subs that will go well with the miso butter flavor and thyme. Let me know what beans you use in the comments below!
What To Serve With Miso Butter Beans:
These beans taste really good over rice or served with crusty bread. They have the coziness of a soup but are more hearty in many ways.
Serving these miso butter beans along steak or chicken is also a great way to create complete meal that is so filling! I love serving these with my flank steak in soy marinade or as a topping on my weekly burger bowls that I make for meal prep.
Recipe: Serves 6
- (1) can Cannellini Beans (15.5 oz)
- (1) can Red Kidney Beans (15.5 oz) You can use chickpeas, butter beans, or really any beans you prefer!
- 1 white or yellow onion You can use sweet onion, a red onion, or even a lot of green onion.
- 5 garlic cloves Garlic makes this recipe super savory. You can use garlic powder in a pinch but the whole cloves are best!
- 3 Tbs fresh thyme You can use dried thyme too.
- 4 Tbs butter, salted. You can also sub for oil of choice. The butter is to cook the onions an dherbs.
- 2 Tbs white miso paste You can use red miso paste but start with 1 tbs as it is stronger.
- Black Pepper, to taste
Directions For Easy One-Pot Beans with Miso Butter, Thyme, and Onions
Prepare the Beans
If using dried beans, be sure to soak over night. Once soft, drain and set aside. Prepare 1 cup stock, as mentioned in the notes, if using dried beans.
Drain and rinse the cans of beans, set aside.
Prepare the Aromatics
Over medium heat, heat a deep bottom pot or large skillet. Add 1 Tbs of butter.
Mince the 5 garlic cloves and add to the pot
Chop the onion, and add to the pot with the garlic.
Add 2 of the 3 Tbs of fresh thyme to the garlic and onion.
Stir together and let sauté until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant and golden, about 7 or 8 minutes.
Add the Beans and Miso
When ready, add the miso paste, and the rest of the butter to the onions and garlic.
Stir together. When simmering ( about 1-2 minutes) add the beans and the last tablespoon of the thyme.
Stir to combine and let the beans simmer while everything simmers and combines, about 8-10 minutes.
Taste and adjust the levels of miso and thyme. The beans are ready when everything is creamy, thick, and warm!
Serve with black pepper and enjoy!
One Pot Savory Beans with Miso Butter, Thyme and Onions
Ingredients
- (1) can Cannellini Beans (15.5 oz)
- (1) can Red Kidney Beans (15.5 oz)
- 1 white or yellow onion
- 5 garlic cloves
- 3 Tbs fresh thyme
- 4 Tbs butter, salted
- 2 Tbs white miso paste
- Black Pepper, to taste
Instructions
Nutrition Facts
Calories
92Protein
3 gCarbs
8 gFat
6 gSugar
1 gNote: Nutritional values are an estimate only. Exact values may vary. Portions listed under each recipe are intended as 1-2 servings.
