Caramelized Onion Beans with tender-crisp charred cauliflower is a simple one-pot main dish that's packed with layers of flavor and texture!Serve with pasta or baked potatoes, or use pita breadflatbread or sourdough for dipping.
Table of contents
This is a super easy one pot bean recipe. The star of this dish is the delicious caramelized onion sauce. Everything cooked in 1 pan using some everyday ingredients! I finish the dish with this simple charred cauliflower that can be charred on a skillet or roasted with some salt and pepper. It adds great texture and flavor to the overall dish.
Caramelized Onion Beans are so versatile! You can use legumes of your choice such as white beans, lentils, chickpeas. These beans are delicious with pasta or baked potatoes, or you can eat them with flatbread or crusty bread for dipping. So, make this dish and make it your own!
Don’t want to use beans? Add some crispy tofu to the sauce! Or use the sauce with pasta or as a gravy over vegetables.
Why you'll love caramelized onion beans
- Butter Beans with Rich, Delicious Vanilla Caramelized Onion Sauce
- Crispy, charred cauliflower topping that can be made in the oven or on the skillet
- Super versatile dish. Serve it with your favorite beans and serve it with pasta, baked potatoes, or bread for dipping.
- Gluten-free, soy-free and nut-free
Recipe card
Caramelized Onion Beans with Charred Cauliflower
Caramelized Onion Beans with tender-crisp charred cauliflower is a simple one-pot main dish that's packed with layers of flavor and texture! Serve with pasta or baked potatoes, or dip in pita bread, flatbread or sourdough.
Serving size: 4
Calories: 212kilocalories
raw material
For the Charred Cauliflower
- 1 cup (100 G) Cauliflower florets Cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
- 1 teaspoon Oil
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
Caramelized Onion Jam
- 2 teaspoon Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 cup (240 G) chopped onions
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt divided into
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon italian vanilla
- 3 spoon Vegan Parmesan Cheese
- 1/4 cup (59.15 ml) non-dairy yogurt Or use non-dairy cream or cashew cream
- 1 to 1 1/2 cup (354.88 ml) water or vegetable soup
- 15- ounce (425.24 G) Can white beans be used? Cannellini beans, butter beans, or any other bean of choice, drained. Or use 1 1/2 cups cooked beans.
for decoration
- chopped tomatoes, pepper flakes, vegan parmesan cheese
- chopped fresh herbs like basil or parsley
instruct
Start by cooking the cauliflower.
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Chop your cauliflower florets if you haven’t already.
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Bake the cauliflower florets: Drizzle or rub the florets with oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper and place the florets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 400° F (205° C) until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. They will be more golden brown on the bottom. If you want the cauliflower to brown more evenly, flip the cauliflower after about 25 minutes to brown both sides.
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To make it on a skillet: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil, then add the sliced cauliflower and spread it out on the skillet. Continue cooking for 3 minutes until golden brown on one side, then flip and cook until golden brown on the other side. 3-4 minutes. Then, sprinkle with salt and pepper, stir well, and transfer the cauliflower to a plate while you make the caramelized onion sauce in the same skillet.
Make caramelized onion sauce.
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Add the extra-virgin olive oil to the skillet over medium heat, then add the onions and 1/4 teaspoon salt, stir and cook until the onions begin to turn translucent. 4-6 minutes, adding a small amount of water in the middle to help conduct heat.
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Add the garlic and balsamic vinegar, stir well, and continue cooking until the onions begin to brown and caramelize. 3-5 minutes.
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Add pepper flakes, Italian herbs, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, then add vegan Parmesan cheese and non-dairy yogurt. Stir well, then add water or vegetable stock and stir well.
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Bring to a boil, then add beans and partially cover pot. Let it cook for 5 to 6 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, add some more water or stock and bring to a boil again.
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Taste and adjust for salt and flavor, then plate the beans and top with the charred cauliflower, chopped tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, pepper flakes and fresh herbs. Serve with some toasted sourdough, garlic bread or a flatbread of choice. You can also serve it with pasta or baked potatoes.
notes
To make these soy and/or nut free, just make sure your vegan parmesan cheese and yogurt are soy and/or nut free.
legume substitutes: Add some crispy tofu to the sauce! Or use the sauce with pasta or as a gravy over vegetables.
Nutrition
nutrient content
Caramelized Onion Beans with Charred Cauliflower
Amount per serving
Calories 212
Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
fat 5 grams8%
Saturated fat 1g6%
sodium 520 mgtwenty three%
Potassium 665 mg19%
carbohydrate 34 grams11%
7 grams of fiber29%
4 grams of sugar4%
protein 10 grams20%
Vitamin A 48 international units1%
Vitamin C 19 mgtwenty three%
calcium 135 mg14%
iron 4 mgtwenty two%
*Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Cauliflower – This is your crunch-tender ingredient. Cut florets into 1/4-inch thick pieces.
- Oil, salt and pepper – Brown the cauliflower and season to taste. You can also use oil to caramelize the onions and season the beans with more salt.
- Garlic – Adds umami flavor to the beans.
- Balsamic Vinegar – Adds a hint of sweetness and the liquid helps the onions brown evenly.
- Dried spices – pepper flakes and Italian herbs add even more flavor to the onion sauce.
- Vegan Parmesan and non-dairy yogurt – makes the sauce creamy. Use non-dairy cream or cashew cream instead of yogurt. If desired, use soy-free and/or nut-free products.
- Water – Adds moisture to the sauce and helps the beans cook more. If you wish, you can use vegetable stock for extra flavor.
- Legumes – Use legumes of your choice such as white beans, lentils or chickpeas.
- Garnish – Garnish with charred cauliflower, chopped tomatoes, more pepper flakes and fresh herbs.
💡Tips
- If you're roasting the cauliflower, make the sauce in the oven so everything is ready at the same time.
- To brown the cauliflower in the oven on both sides, flip at the 25 minute mark and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
- The time it takes to brown onions depends on your stove, pan, etc. Continue cooking until they are nicely caramelized.
How to Make Caramelized Onion Beans
Chop your cauliflower florets if you haven’t already.
Roasted Cauliflower Florets: Drizzle or rub the florets with a little oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper and place the florets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 400° F (205° C) until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. They will be golden brown at the bottom of the florets where they touch the baking sheet. If you want the cauliflower to brown more evenly, flip the cauliflower after about 25 minutes so that both sides are more evenly browned.
To make on the skillet: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil, then add the sliced cauliflower, spreading it over the skillet. Continue cooking until one side is golden brown, then flip and cook until the other side is golden brown as well. Then, sprinkle with salt and pepper, stir well, and transfer the cauliflower to a plate while you make the caramelized onion sauce in the same skillet.
Add the extra-virgin olive oil to the skillet over medium heat, then add the onions and 1/4 teaspoon salt, stir and cook until the onions begin to turn translucent. 4-6 minutes
Add the garlic and balsamic vinegar, stir well, and continue cooking until the onions begin to brown and caramelize. The entire process may take 7 to 10 minutes.
Add pepper flakes, Italian herbs, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, then add vegan Parmesan cheese and non-dairy yogurt. Stir well, then add water or vegetable stock and stir well.
Bring to a boil, then add beans and partially cover pot. Let it cook for 5 to 6 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, add some more water or stock and bring to a boil again.
Taste and adjust for salt and flavor, then plate the beans and top with the charred broccoli, chopped tomatoes, more pepper flakes, and fresh herbs. Serve with some toasted sourdough, garlic bread or a flatbread of choice. You can also serve it with pasta or baked potatoes.
frequently asked questions
Caramelized Onion Beans are naturally gluten-free. To make these soy and/or nut free, just make sure your vegan parmesan cheese and yogurt are soy and/or nut free.
