Escarole and Beans features fresh tender escarole braised in garlic butter with creamy cannellini beans. It's the ideal healthy dinner that is loaded with nutrients and made in under 30 minutes.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why You'll Love This Escarole and Beans Recipe
• 🛒 Ingredients for Escarole and Beans
• 🔪 How to Make Scarola e Fagioli
• 💡 Tips
• ☑️ Storage Instructions
• 🔄 Substitutions and Additions
• What kind of beans go with escarole?
• How do I get the bitterness out of escarole?
• How healthy are escarole and beans?
• How do Italians cook escarole?
• 🍽️ More Tasty Italian Recipes

❤️ Why You'll Love This Escarole and Beans Recipe

• Fresh tender escarole
• Braised in a garlicky olive oil and butter mixture
• Creamy cannellini beans
• Quick and easy to make in under 30 minutes
• Vegetarian and Mediterranean Diet friendly

This escarole and beans is one of my favorite dishes from my childhood. My grandma made it often and called it Fagioli e Scarola pronounced "fazool escharoal". Every time I make it, to this day, it brings me right back to her kitchen when I was little.

When I was little, I had no idea how healthy and loaded with nutrition it was, I just knew that it tasted amazing! This is such an easy, but very tasty dish that only uses a handful of ingredients.

It's great for busy weeknights and if you want to add some bulk, you can toss in some pasta as well. If you've never had this dish before, it's definitely worth trying!

🛒 Ingredients for Escarole and Beans

• Escarole
• Cannellini beans
• Vegetable broth
• Garlic
• Olive oil
• Butter
• Salt
• Ground black pepper

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• Large pot
• Skillet or Dutch oven

🔪 How to Make Scarola e Fagioli

Thoroughly wash your escarole, then tear it into small pieces. I like to use my salad spinner to help make it easier.

Heat a large pot to high with a few inches of water.

Once boiling, add in a generous amount of salt and the escarole.  Blanch for 5 minutes.

While the escarole is blanching, add the butter and olive oil to a skillet with high sides or a Dutch oven.  Add in the garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds.

Add in the cannellini beans (with the liquid), vegetable broth and stir.

Add in the blanched escarole, salt and pepper, then stir to combine.

Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes or until the escarole is tender, then serve.

💡 Tips

• Clean your escarole leaf by leaf. Dirt tends to get lodged deep between the leaves.
• Tear into small enough pieces that will make it easier to eat with a spoon.
• I usually toss and preserving liquid in canned beans, drain and rinse them well.  This dish is one of the few exceptions where I like using the liquid to help flavor the escarole. My grandma always did this and it’s one of those things you just don’t change!

☑️ Storage Instructions

Store leftover escarole and beans in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge or freeze.

🔄 Substitutions and Additions

• If you’re Vegan, you can omit the butter and use all olive oil.
• If you’re not Vegan or Vegetarian, and happen to have chicken broth on hand instead of vegetable broth, you can use it instead.
• Add a kick of heat with 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
• Add in a little extra flavor with some finely chopped anchovies and the oil that they are packed in.
• Add in a little briny deliciousness with some chopped Kalamata olives.
• Make this dish a more filling meal by adding in some pasta like Ditalini, Orecchiette, Orzo or other small pasta. If you’re on the Mediterranean Diet, use whole wheat pasta or farro.
• Add some freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese over the top for a little cheesy flavor.

What kind of beans go with escarole?

Cannellini or white beans are the best to use with escarole.

How do I get the bitterness out of escarole?

The blanching that we do at the beginning of this recipe really helps with the bitterness. Finish cooking in a flavorful garlic and olive oil mixture also helps.

How healthy are escarole and beans?

Very! Escarole is incredibly nutritious and the cannellini beans are a great source of protein. Both are a perfect combination for the Mediterranean Diet, as they are high in fiber and nutrients.

How do Italians cook escarole?

This recipe is pretty traditional and was passed down from my Italian grandma who made this countless times when I was a child.

🍽️ More Tasty Italian Recipes

• Penne Arrabbiata
• Spaghetti with Homemade Meat Sauce
• Shrimp Scampi with Linguine
• Penne Alla Vodka
• Roasted Pepper Pasta