Creamy Butter Bean & Kale Stew

A warm, flavourful one-pot dish that turns humble butter beans and kale into a creamy, nourishing comfort meal, perfect for cosy days when you want something hearty yet wholesome. We cooked this one on a crispy afternoon with our Spanish Picual; its peppery character brought a beautiful balance to the creamy beans and earthy kale.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 medium tomatoes, processed into a pulp
• 5-6 kale leaves, ribs removed and chopped
• 3 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 small red bell pepper (paprika), finely diced
• 500 g cooked butter beans (keep some of the stock if it's canned)
• 3 tbsp cooking cream (use plant-based cream for a fully vegan version)
• 2 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
• Salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• ½ tsp ground coriander
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method

• Start with the aromatics
  In a large pot, warm 1–2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent and fragrant, about 3–4 minutes.
• Add the base
  Stir in the diced red bell pepper and cook for another 2 minutes. Then add the tomato pulp and tomato purée together, stirring occasionally as the mixture thickens and deepens in colour.
• Season and build flavour
  Add the cayenne pepper, ground coriander, salt and black pepper. Stir well and let it cook for 2 minutes until the spices blend into the tomato base.
• Beans & kale join in
  Add the butter beans along with some of their stock. It naturally thickens the stew and gives a velvety texture, so there’s no need to add extra water. Stir gently and bring to a gentle simmer. Otherwise, add half cup of hot water. Add the chopped kale.
• Creamy finish
  Add the cooking cream and stir well to combine. Cover the pot and simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes, until the kale softens and everything melds into a rich, creamy stew.
• Taste & serve
  Adjust seasoning if needed. For extra richness, drizzle a bit more extra virgin olive oil just before serving.
  Serve warm with crusty bread or enjoy it as a nourishing meal on its own for your body and soul.