Tomato + White Bean Stew with Parmesan

This Tomato + White Bean Stew checks all of the boxes for me. It’s flavorful, healthy, simple, and endlessly riffable. Pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients add a quick punch of flavor to this stew, which means it comes together in thirty minutes. Save this comforting recipe for when you’re cozied up on a crisp night! It has such a nice balance of hearty and fresh flavors, and as soon as the temperature drops you’ll make it on repeat.

Aromatic onions and garlic, tomatoes, broth, parmesan, and lemon add layers of flavor here. White beans and kale add heartiness. While this recipe is delicious as is, it’s flexible, so make this your own. See the Riffs section underneath the recipe for tips on incorporating ground Italian sausage, or swaps to make it dairy-free and vegan.

Tomato + White Bean Stew with Parmesan

Make this this Tomato + White Bean Stew on a crisp night! Pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients add a quick punch of flavor this 30-minute recipe.

Prep:
5
min
cook:
30
min
total:
35
min
Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil or butter
  • Kosher salt
  • 1/2 large yellow onion diced
  • optional: few teaspoons Calabrian chili paste or few pinches crushed red chili flakes
  • 3 cloves garlic finely diced
  • 2 heaping tablespoons tomato paste
  • 32 oz can of whole peeled tomatoes or 32oz can of crushed tomatoes. If using whole peeled tomatoes, break them up with your hands before incorporating in recipe.
  • 1 bunch kale roughly chopped into about 1" pieces (stems included)
  • 1 and 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth or stock or water if needed
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan plus more for serving
  • 2 15- ounce cans of white beans drained (butter beans preferred, cannellini beans work well)
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Freshly cracked black pepper
  • Optional: lemon wedges from zested lemon, toasted breadcrumbs, and/or crispy bacon for serving

Instructions

Saute the aromatics

  1. Add olive oil or butter to a heavy bottomed stockpot or dutch oven over medium heat.
  2. Add diced onion to pot, stir to coat in olive oil or butter, and season very generously with kosher salt. If you want some spice, add the Calabrian chile paste or a few pinches crushed red chili flakes.
  3. Saute diced onion over medium heat for several minutes until soft, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add diced garlic, stir, cook until garlic is fragrant, about a minute or so.
  5. Add tomato paste, stir to evenly distribute, and cook for several minutes to caramelize the onion, garlic, and tomato paste mixture. The mixture will have a bricky red color when it's caramelized.

Add Remaining Ingredients + Simmer

  1. Add canned tomatoes, chopped kale, broth (or stock or water), lemon zest, parmesan, and drained white beans. Using the back of a wooden spoon, gently crush some of the beans - this will help thicken the stew.
  2. With the lid off the stock pot, let the stew simmer on medium heat for about 10 minutes - you should see steam coming out of the pot, and the liquid should reduce slightly, which concentrates the flavor. Stir occasionally. Taste as the stew simmers and add more salt as needed. Stir occasionally to submerge kale. You'll finish this recipe with the lid on the stockpot.
  3. Cover your pot with lid and let simmer on low heat for at least 10 more minutes.

Finish + Serve

  1. Serve with freshly cracked black pepper, lots of grated parm, and lemon wedges from the zested lemon.  Enjoy with buttery toast slices.

Let's riff
  • The Protein: Add ground Italian sausage to round the meal out. Cook ground sausage in the stockpot as the first step, when done remove it but reserve some of the fat, and add the cooked sausage back to the stew before serving.
  • The Spice: Calabrian chile paste adds sweetness and heat, and a little goes a long way. A few pinches of crushed red chili flakes will also get the job done. Omit either if you're not into spice.
  • The Garnishes: If garnishing with bacon, render bacon bits in the stockpot as the first step.  When done, remove it but reserve some of the fat in the pot, and then cook the recipe following the rest of the steps. Cooking the bacon in the same pot as the stew adds layers of flavor. Top bowls with crispy bacon. I also love to top this with crispy breadcrumbs and a few pinches of chopped fresh parsley.
  • The Texture: To make the consistency more thin and brothy, simply add more broth, or even water. This stew will thicken when saved for leftovers, so add more broth or water when reheating on the stovetop if desired. Be sure to generously season with more kosher salt here.
  • The Vegetarian Swaps: Sub in water or vegetable stock in place of chicken stock to keep this vegetarian.
  • The Dairy-Free Swaps: Omit the Parmesan cheese to keep it dairy-free.
  • The Vegan Swaps: Omit the Parmesan cheese and sub in water or vegetable stock in place of chicken stock tp keep it vegan.

Comment

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Phil Stewart
October 7, 2024
Leigh Grassi
October 4, 2024
Yolanda Pavy
October 3, 2024
Phil Stewart
October 1, 2024
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September 28, 2024
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Josefa
September 5, 2024
Jay
August 25, 2024
Hey! Went to make this tonight but mine turned out very watery/liquidy - any idea what went wrong? Just used organic hellmans and a bunch of basil with an immersion blender - maybe used too much basil?
Philipp
August 23, 2024
Alicia Motley
August 15, 2024
Helene Langley
August 9, 2024
Suzanne McColl
August 7, 2024
Alba Renteria
August 4, 2024
Williams Swift
August 3, 2024
Chantal Harless
July 31, 2024
Vada
July 30, 2024
Jamal Reddy
July 29, 2024
Asa Loughlin
July 28, 2024
Bobbie Prout
July 27, 2024
Dolly Sackett
July 25, 2024
Octavio Ranieri
July 25, 2024
Kim W
July 22, 2024
I made this last night, and it was one of the most delicious meals I’ve ever eaten! I am going to make this a lot while the tomatoes are in season. Thank you!
Dorie Akehurst
July 22, 2024
Catherine Hann
July 21, 2024
Belen Speed
July 18, 2024
Carmela Clift
July 18, 2024
Jenna Symon
July 15, 2024
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July 14, 2024
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July 10, 2024
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July 6, 2024
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June 29, 2024
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June 26, 2024
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June 23, 2024
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June 20, 2024
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June 18, 2024
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June 15, 2024
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June 15, 2024
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June 11, 2024
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June 9, 2024
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June 5, 2024
Humberto Caesar
June 4, 2024
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May 31, 2024
Diane Aslatt
May 31, 2024
Annetta Merchant
May 20, 2024
Brendan Bear
May 9, 2024
Nora Perry
May 8, 2024
Mark Moore
May 6, 2024
Charley McWilliam
May 5, 2024
Latesha
April 30, 2024
April 30, 2024
Maggie Covington
April 27, 2024
Gene Penny
April 21, 2024
Hilario Druitt
April 17, 2024
Tilly Killough
April 16, 2024
Jeannine Turner
April 13, 2024
Alvin Goold
April 7, 2024
Dean Baader
April 6, 2024
Frank Hardie
April 5, 2024
Elvira
April 4, 2024
Aleisha Lee
March 31, 2024
Noreen Stretch
March 28, 2024
Sherman Cruz
March 25, 2024
Ludie Key
March 23, 2024
Gini
March 20, 2024
Loved the soup. Croutons too much trouble. Fast in a cup!
Ray Beall
March 16, 2024
Richard
February 22, 2024
send me fruits to add with another fruit to cure disease
Deneen Medland
April 17, 2023
Kelle Trouton
April 17, 2023
Caroline
January 23, 2023
I made this same amazing salad with the following additions: I used a bed of chopped romaine hearts, and squeezed the juice of all the trimmed cara cara oranges, plus 1/2 lemon, added a drizzled of Tupelo honey on top. The herbs: chopped fennel fronds and mint. Everyone went crazy for it!
Marcus
YUM! Definitely going to pair this with a nice and funky natty white next time!
Caroline
January 23, 2023
I made this same amazing salad with the following additions: I used a bed of chopped romaine hearts, and squeezed the juice of all the trimmed cara cara oranges, plus 1/2 lemon, added a drizzled of Tupelo honey on top. The herbs: chopped fennel fronds and mint. Everyone went crazy for it!