Vegetarian Piccata with Cannellini Beans Recipe
This Vegetarian Piccata with Cannellini Beans is a rich and tangy dish that combines creamy beans with a zesty lemon-caper sauce. Perfect as a hearty main or a delicious side, it features minced shallots and garlic sautéed in butter, thickened with flour, and layered with savory capers and bright lemon juice for a comforting yet flavorful meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons (28 grams) butter
- 1 large shallot, minced
- 8 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 tablespoons (15 grams) flour
- 2 ounces (57 grams) capers with their brine
- 1 ½ cups (355 ml) good vegetable broth
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 15.5-ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup 1 ounce (28 grams) grated pecorino or parmesan cheese
- Juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Melt the butter over medium-high heat in a 12-inch frying pan. Add the minced shallot, garlic, and fine sea salt, cooking and stirring frequently until softened and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
- Add Flour: Sprinkle the flour over the aromatics and cook, stirring constantly, to form a roux for 1 minute to eliminate the raw flour taste.
- Incorporate Liquids and Capers: Pour in the vegetable broth and the capers along with their brine. Grind in the freshly ground black pepper. Stir thoroughly to incorporate all the flour into the sauce.
- Simmer Sauce: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for 5 minutes to thicken and develop flavor.
- Add Beans and Heat Through: Stir in the drained and rinsed cannellini beans and continue to simmer for about 5 more minutes until the beans are warmed through and the sauce is well combined.
- Finish Sauce: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the grated pecorino or parmesan cheese along with the fresh lemon juice to brighten the dish.
- Serve: Serve the vegetarian piccata warm, ideal as a main dish or alongside your favorite sides.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor balance and acidity.
- Rinsing canned cannellini beans removes excess sodium and improves texture.
- Adjust salt at the end if needed, considering the saltiness of the capers and cheese.
- For a vegan option, substitute butter with olive oil and omit the cheese or use a plant-based alternative.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with crusty bread or over cooked pasta or rice.
Keywords: vegetarian piccata, cannellini beans, lemon piccata, capers, easy vegetarian dinner, Italian vegetarian recipes
