As I was browsing Pinterest, I came across a cheesy, tomatoey Gnocchi image. It made me pause and make me drool. The funny thing is that I initially thought the Gnocchi looked like white beans. The short version is that I realized they were Gnocchi but kept sticking with the white bean baked with marinara cheese and white beans. I was intrigued by replacing Gnocchi with high-fiber beans, so I decided to give it another try. Marinara and White Beans with Mushrooms were everything I expected. This recipe is very adaptable, so I’m excited to share it with you.

What kind of WHITE BEANS SHOULD YOU USE?

I used them in this recipe because large butter beans are huge and look like Gnocchi. Cannellini beans are slightly larger and creamy than butter beans and are an excellent alternative. They are also slightly more expensive, but they retain their shape well. You can also use navy beans, but they are not as tasty and will cause the dish to be less texture.

CAN I ADD MEAT TO THIS?

Sure! Yes! I recommend Italian sausage, which is browned in the skillet before adding the mushrooms. But pepperoni would also work well. The pepperoni can be fried in the skillet, then added to the mushrooms. Or you can chop the pepperoni up and add them to the sauce.

WHAT OTHER VEGETABLES CAN YOU ADD?

There are many great choices for those who don’t like mushrooms or want to add other vegetables. These flavors would be great paired with zucchini and spinach. For zucchini, I recommend slicing the mushrooms and sauteing them. Stir in the spinach after the sauce has been heated. This will allow it to wilt. You can also make eggplant amazing by dicing it and sauteing it after the mushrooms.

HOW TO SERVE WHITE BEANS AND MARINARA WITH MUSHROOMS & MARINARA

This dish will make you want to savor every last drop of the marinara. I recommend serving it with Garlic Bread. Garlic bread is always a good choice, too. This mixture can be served over zoodles or a half-roasted eggplant. Or, if you don’t want to avoid pasta, serve it over some good old pasta.

WHITE BEANS WITH MUSHROOMS & MARINARA

This cheesy, rich skillet is full of white beans and mushrooms.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

  • 8 oz. mushrooms ($2.29)
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil ($0.32)
  • One teaspoon of salt and pepper ($0.05).
  • 2 cloves of garlic ($0.16)
  • Two cups of marinara ($1.00).
  • 2 15oz. 2 15oz. cans of butter beans ($2.00
  • 1/2 tsp dried Basil ($0.05)
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper ($0.02)
  • 4 oz. mozzarella ($0.65)

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat the oven to 400oF Wash and cut the mushrooms. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the mushrooms. Sauté the mushrooms in olive oil until they are wilted.
  • While the mushrooms cook, chop the garlic and drain the butter beans. Sauté the garlic in the skillet with the mushrooms for 2 more minutes.
  • Add the marinara, red pepper, butter beans, and Basil to a skillet. Mix everything and heat it, stirring occasionally.
  • As the skillet heats up, grate the mozzarella. Cover the skillet with the mozzarella, and then cover it with foil. Bake the skillet in the oven for about 5-7 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
  • After the cheese has melted, remove the foil and broil the skillet for about a minute more. Serve immediately with garlic bread for dipping.

NOTES

If you don’t own an oven-safe skillet, transfer the beans, the mushrooms and marinara into a casserole dish and bake with the cheese.

NUTRITION

Serving Size: 1 serving Calories = 457.55 kcal Carbohydrates=58.15 G Protein: 25.15 G Fat: 15.38g Sodium: 946.05mg Fiber: 11.98g