Butter Beans with Ricotta, Lemon & Tarragon Pesto

I love nothing more than a recipe that doesn’t require me to turn on an oven or an element. It screams simplicity and foolproof results. This salad is all that and more. It is literally the easiest throw-together if you have little time to make an impressive dish to take to a BBQ or if you just need a “whip-up in under half an hour meal” option to throw on the table after a busy day. Yes, you could make it even easier if you are in a hurry and use store-bought standard pesto if you want. Zero judgement! The tarragon flavour in this is quite something, though, so give it a shot if you have 5 minutes spare to throw everything in the blender. Serve this dish with some fresh sourdough picked up on the way home from work…hey pesto, happy days!

Nutrition Bite: Tarragon – Packed with antioxidants, this fragrant herb helps protect the body from oxidative stress and supports a healthy immune system. It’s a natural source of vitamins A, C, and a variety of B vitamins, which play a key role in skin health, immunity, and energy production. Traditionally, tarragon has been used to aid digestion, soothe stomach discomfort, and even stimulate appetite—making it a wonderful addition to meals when you need a little digestive boost.

Ingredients:

Tarragon Pesto 

1/2 cup toasted pine nuts

2 cups packed basil leaves

2 cloves garlic

1/3 cup fresh tarragon

1 tsp lemon zest

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup olive oil

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp salt, plus more to taste

1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

Butter Beans

2 cans of butter beans, rinsed and drained

6 tablespoons of olive oil, plus some to serve

250g of ricotta cheese

1 lemon – juice and zest

Directions:

Tarragon Pesto

Place all ingredients in a food processor and process until fairly smooth, but with a few small chunky bits left for texture.

Butter Beans

Spoon the beans onto a large serving platter and dollop over the ricotta cheese and pesto. Sprinkle over the lemon zest and juice. Finish with a decent amount of freshly cracked black pepper, salt and an extra drizzle of olive oil, if you fancy.