I recently discovered a fab side dish that you can throw together with an ingredient that you can always keep in your pantry: canned white beans. So, if company shows up at the last minute, you can always grill something and smash some beans!

This dish has the same ‘comfort’ factor as mashed potatoes, and yet is so much healthier. Beans are almost always in the budget-friendly Top Ten Healthy Foods and Super foods lists. They are packed with protein and are a very frugal protein source.

This ‘mash’ has much more flavor than mashed potatoes, and is so, so , soooooo much easier to make! No peeling and boiling chunks of potatoes. I am very excited to have discovered this fun and flavorful side dish, and I couldn’t wait to share it with all of you! It will become one of my top side dish standbys.

First,  you saute some shallot or onion, garlic and fresh herbs . I like thyme, but you could use pretty much any favorite herb, since beans are mild and are a match for most any herb. Then, add the beans and mash with a potato masher and drizzle in extra virgin olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Add a little water to make the texture as fluffy as you like it, and you’re done!

WHITE BEAN SMASH

2 medium shallots, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons minced thyme leaves (or other fresh herbs)
4 cans (15 ounces each) any variety white beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup water, or more as desired
Salt and pepper to taste
A few dashes Tabasco sauce

Saute the shallots and garlic over medium heat in 1 tablespoon of the oil for 2 – 3 minutes, until onion is translucent. Add thyme leaves and cook another minute. Add in beans and remaining oil and mash with potato masher. Slowly add in lemon juice and water as needed to reach a fluffy, mashed potato type texture. Taste and add salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce as desired. Serve warm. Serves 4 to 6 as a side dish.

Other fab white bean side dishes:
The Original White Bean Mash recipe - Nigella Lawson
White Bean Gratin - Serious Eats.com
White Bean Vinaigrette – Perfect Pantry.com

– posted by Donna