Can you freeze this Creamy White Bean Skillet Meal?

Name: Creamy White Bean Skillet Meal
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil (or vegetable broth); 1/2 red onion (small dice); 4 large garlic cloves (minced); 2 pints cherry tomatoes (or grape tomatoes (about 4 cups), halved); 2 (15-ounce) cans white beans ((cannellini, navy, Great Northern), drained and rinsed, or 3 cups cooked); 1 cup blanched almonds (soaked in boiling water for 30 minutes, drained); 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional); 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (plus more as needed); 2 cloves garlic; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 3/4 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast; 2 teaspoons maple syrup (or unsulphured blackstrap molasses); 2 cups finely chopped Swiss chard (or spinach or kale); 2 tablespoons hemp hearts

Yes! Store any leftovers in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator or microwave. Reheat on the stove top or microwave, adding more water or veggie broth as needed.

Creamy White Bean Skillet Meal (20 Minutes)

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Spices, white beans, red onion, cherry tomatoes, blanched almonds, olive oil, black strap molasses, lemon, nutritional yeast, and garlic on a white backdrop.

White beans add protein, iron, and fiber to this skillet meal. Cannellini beans are higher in protein that the other white beans, but all varieties work.

Use cherry or grape tomatoes for this recipe. They are similar in size, and cook quickly, balancing this dish with their juices. Plus, their high vitamin C content helps with absorbing the iron from the beans and greens. Halve them for quicker cooking.

Almonds are healthy, and a good source of protein, fiber and heart healthy fats, which contribute to a feeling of fullness, and aid in digestion. Blanched almonds are almonds that have has their skins removed. This makes for a smoother sauce, but feel free to use raw almonds with their skins.

Fortified Nutritional yeast is high in vitamin B₁₂, and is a source of complete protein. Even more, it gives these creamy white beans an addictive cheesy taste.

Unsulphured blackstrap molasses is a thick, dark, bittersweet robust syrup and is a by product of the sugar refining process. It is an excellent source of nutrients, especially iron. However, feel free to use maple syrup instead.

See recipe card for quantities.

🧅 Substitutions

Red onion - use yellow onion or shallots instead as desired

White beans - use cannellini, navy, Great Northern or pinto beans

Nutritional yeast - substitute with tamari or soy sauce, or 1 tablespoon mellow miso dissolved in 1 ½ tablespoons water

Almonds - use raw cashews or walnuts instead

Chopped greens - add chopped Swiss chard, spinach, or kale for more iron and nutrients

Hemp hearts - garnish with hemp hearts for more protein

Try my High-Protein Freezer-Friendly Veggie Wraps for a quick weeknight dinner. Visit my Vegan Bean Recipes page for more protein-packed weeknight dinner ideas.

📖 Instructions

Cooked chopped red onion in a stainless steel skillet next to a lemon, head of garlic, and white beans in a glass bowl.

Step 1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the red onion for about 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.

Yellow and red cherry tomatoes, red onion, and garlic cooking in a large stainless-steel skillet next to a bowl of white beans, and a lemon.

Step 2. Transfer the cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for about 10 minutes, or until they break down, stirring frequently. Add a splash of water or veggie broth if the skillet becomes too dry.

Stewed tomatoes in a large stainless-steel skillet with a black masher.

Step 3. Then use the side of a spatula, or potato masher to mash the tomatoes while simmering, until a sauce forms, adding more water or broth as needed.

Dairy-free creamy almond sauce in a blender with a black spoon.

Step 4. Make the almond cheese sauce: Meanwhile, place the almonds, ¾ cup water, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, smoked paprika, onion powder, chipotle, cayenne, and nutritional yeast inside the canister of a blender. Blend until a smooth cream forms.

Stewed tomatoes, white beans, and dairy-free almond cheese in a large stainless-steel skillet.

Step 5. Add the white beans, and about one-half of the almond cheese sauce to the skillet with the tomatoes. Mix to combine and cook for about 5 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring frequently.

Creamy white beans in a large stainless-steel skillet with a black spoon.

Step 6. Add water or veggie broth as needed, the chopped greens (if using), and more almond cream until the desired texture. Season with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Garnish with hemp seeds as desired.

📖 Recipe