Creamy 5-Ingredient Tuscan White Bean Pasta
A quick and easy creamy Tuscan white bean pasta made with simple pantry staples, perfect for busy nights. This vegan and dairy-free dish features a velvety sauce made from mashed white beans and fresh herbs.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Tuscan, Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) white beans, drained and rinsed (preferably cannellini)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces (225 g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti)
- A handful of fresh basil or parsley, chopped
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
- Optional: squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add about 1 tablespoon of salt. Cook 8 ounces (225 g) of pasta until al dente, about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While pasta cooks, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Add drained and rinsed white beans to the skillet. Gently mash some beans with a wooden spoon or spatula, leaving some whole for texture. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Reserve about 1 cup (240 ml) of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Drain pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the beans.
- Pour in about 1/2 cup (120 ml) of reserved pasta water and toss to coat the pasta with the bean mixture. Add more pasta water as needed to reach desired creaminess, up to 1 cup (240 ml) total.
- Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Add red pepper flakes if desired.
- Turn off heat and stir in chopped fresh basil or parsley. The residual heat will wilt the herbs gently.
- Serve immediately, optionally drizzled with olive oil or a squeeze of lemon juice.
Notes
Do not rinse pasta after draining to help sauce cling better. Adjust pasta water slowly to achieve creamy but not soupy sauce. Cook garlic gently to avoid bitterness. Fresh herbs added off heat preserve bright flavor. Optional add-ins include red pepper flakes for heat or lemon juice for brightness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 8
- Protein: 15
Keywords: Tuscan pasta, white bean pasta, creamy pasta, vegan pasta, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, dairy-free pasta, healthy pasta