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World’s Best Beans and Greens

My husband, Brad, loves – and I mean LOVES – kale.

He’ll roast up kale chips and eat the entire tray in one sitting. So, it goes without saying that his recipe for beans and greens has got to be good, and of course, the hero of his recipe is kale (some people use spinach, and you can do that in a pinch, but kale is sturdier and crispier, with a bolder flavor).

The resulting dish is toasty, garlicky and just the right amount of citrusy, and is better than any beans and greens I’ve ordered at a restaurant. You can serve it alongside another protein like chicken, but we like spooning it over quinoa and making a whole meal out of it. It’s delicious heated up for lunch the next day, too.

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World’s Best Beans and Greens

5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 5

Equipment

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup olive oil, divided
  • 1 medium shallot, sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 bunch of kale, de-stemmed and ripped into quarter-sized pieces
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • salt to taste
  • red pepper flakes
  • 15 ounces cannellini beans (one can or box), drained and rinsed
  • 15 ounces chickpeas (one can or box), drained and rinsed

Optional garnish

  • shaved Violife Just Like Parmesan

Instructions

  • Heat pan to medium.
  • Add half of the olive oil.
  • Add shallots and cook until they become translucent.
  • Add garlic and saute until shallots and garlic begin to brown.
  • Add cannellini beans and chickpeas and stir to combine, then cook, stirring every once in a while, until they begin to crisp up and turn brown.
  • Add kale and the rest of the olive oil and combine so everything is coated in oil.
  • Add lemon juice, salt and red pepper flakes.
  • Turn to medium low heat and allow to cook slowly until the kale begins to soften and brown slightly, about 10-15 minutes.
  • Periodically stir gently to allow all ingredients to become slightly caramelized, about another 10 minutes.
  • Serve alone, or over your favorite grain like rice or quinoa.
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2 thoughts on “World’s Best Beans and Greens”

  1. 5 stars
    These are delicious and very easy to make! Great that it’s vegetarian also! I will definitely be putting these on regular rotation at my house.

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Liz Fetchin.

Hey there, I'm Liz!

As a former food editor and everyday home cook, I’ve spent the past 15+ years testing, tasting and saving delicious, Octofree recipes for my family. It’s with lots of love that I share the best of the bunch with you, along with tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way.

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