Orecchiette with Butter Beans, Parsley, Chilli & Lemon Recipe
A vibrant and comforting Italian-inspired pasta dish featuring orecchiette tossed with buttery beans, fresh parsley, fiery red chillies, and bright lemon, finished with a sprinkle of Parmesan or vegetarian cheese for an optional cheesy touch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 400g orecchiette
Sauce & Flavorings
- 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
- 25g grated parmesan or vegetarian alternative (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Follow the package instructions to cook the orecchiette in boiling water until al dente, which usually takes about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta but reserve some of the cooking water to adjust the sauce later.
- Prepare the Sauce Base: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped red chillies and crushed garlic and fry gently for about 2 minutes until they soften and release their aroma.
- Add Beans and Tomatoes: Stir in the drained butter beans and canned cherry tomatoes along with the lemon zest and lemon juice. Let this mixture simmer gently for 5 minutes, allowing the tomatoes to reduce slightly and the flavors to meld.
- Incorporate Parsley: Scatter the finely chopped parsley over the sauce and cook for an additional 2 minutes to infuse its fresh flavor.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Transfer the drained orecchiette into the frying pan with the butter bean and tomato sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta cooking water to loosen it to your preferred consistency. Toss everything together to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
- Serve: Spoon the pasta into bowls and sprinkle with grated Parmesan or vegetarian cheese if desired. Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- Reserving pasta water helps adjust the sauce’s consistency perfectly.
- Deseeding the chillies reduces heat, but keep seeds if a spicier dish is preferred.
- Use vegetarian Parmesan as an alternative to make it suitable for vegetarians.
- This dish can be prepared gluten-free by substituting the orecchiette with gluten-free pasta.
- For extra protein, consider adding sautéed Italian sausage or grilled chicken if not vegetarian.
Keywords: orecchiette, butter beans, pasta recipe, Italian, quick dinner, vegetarian pasta, lemon, chilli, garlic, cherry tomatoes
