Florencia Baldini Last Updated on May 17, 2025This butter bean mash is silky smooth, protein-packed (19g per portion!), and comes together in just minutes with the help of a food processor. It’s the kind of recipe that feels too easy to be this good.
It’s a brilliant alternative to traditional mashed potatoes – quicker to make, just as satisfying, and loaded with fibre too. You can serve it warm or cold, and it pairs beautifully with everything from grilled fish to roasted veggies or slow-cooked tomatoes. Best part? It’s made with just a handful of ingredients you probably already have. A little milk, some Parmesan, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt is all it takes to turn a tin of butter beans into something seriously special.
Tips
- If your mash is too thick, add an extra splash of milk to loosen it.
- Blend for at least 1–2 minutes for that ultra-silky texture.
- Don’t skip the Parmesan – it adds umami and richness.
- For extra flavour, you can sauté some fresh garlic in olive oil and blend that in instead of garlic powder.
Pair With
Grilled fish or chicken – for a high-protein, balanced plate.
Roasted veggies – like carrots, courgettes, or peppers for colour and crunch.
Slow-cooked tomatoes – or a tomato-based sauce for richness and acidity.
Poached eggs – for a quick, nourishing brunch.
Grilled mushrooms – for an earthy, umami-packed combo.
Herby salsa verde – bright and zingy, perfect spooned over the top.
Swaps
Butter beans: Swap with cannellini beans or chickpeas for a slightly different texture and flavour.
Parmesan: Use nutritional yeast for a dairy-free version with a cheesy note.
Milk: Any unsweetened plant-based milk works – oat, almond, or cashew.
Garlic powder: Use roasted or fresh sautéed garlic for a richer flavour.
Salt: Try a dash of miso paste instead for a savoury umami twist.
Storage
Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Microwave for 30–60 seconds, or warm in a saucepan with a splash of milk to loosen.
Freezer: It freezes well! Portion it into small containers and freeze for up to 1 month. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.
More Butter Beans Recipes
- Tahini Roasted Butter Beans
- Creamy Butter Beans & Courgette
- Creamy Butter Beans On Toast
- Butter Beans & Cherry Tomatoes
Silky Butter Bean Mash
Video
Ingredients
- 400 g butter beans
- 30 g Parmesan cheese
- 50 ml milk, I have used unsweetened soya but you can use normal milk for even more flavour
- Pinch of salt
- ¼ garlic powder
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a food processor and blitz until the mash becomes silky smooth (it took ~2 minutes with my food processor.)
- You can enjoy straight away or if you like it nice and warm you can: microwave for a few seconds, airfryer for 1 minute, or even add to a sauce pan an heat up. Once is warm it will become even smoother and softer!!