Lemony Butter Bean Stew (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

This lemony butter bean stew is vibrant, hearty, and healthy. With a fragrant citrus zing, it's a delicious dinner option that's both vegan and gluten-free.

The lemon zest does an incredible job of lifting the flavour of the tomatoes and veg, which themselves combine to deliver an explosion of colour. There are no two ways about it: you have to try this recipe.

I create new content every single week. Subscribe to keep in touch and get a free download of The Vegan Kitchen – My Top 10 Tips.

When life gives you lemons...

If you've never tried adding lemon zest to a tomato-based stew before, you're in for a treat. It's absolutely delicious together with the subtle smokiness from the smoked paprika here.

Note: I would only use the yellow zest of the lemon, not the white pith or the juice. The zest is the part that holds the lemon's essential oil, adding a fragrant citrus zing to the stew.

Lemon juice has a tart, acidic flavour, and I think it's a bit much in a dish like this. Feel free to add in some juice if you like, but maybe go easy on it to start with.

Personally, I'd rather save it for Vegan Cheesy Pasta Sauce.

Are butter beans healthy?

Butter beans – or lima beans – offer a very low-fat source of plant-based protein. They're also full of fibre, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and vitamin B6.

Butter beans are renowned for their soft, creamy texture, and are delicious in soups, salads, dips, and stews just like this one.

Want to learn more about the wonderful world of beans, lentils, and chickpeas? Check out my Beginner’s Guide to Pulses.

How to make lemony butter bean stew

Start by frying the sliced red onions, followed by the sliced peppers and chopped garlic.

Next, add the tomato puree and tinned tomatoes, breaking these up with a spoon. Once the tomatoes have broken apart, add in the vegan stock, smoked paprika, and bay leaves.

After cooking these together, stir in the drained butter beans, thyme, and grated lemon zest and simmer for a further 10-15 minutes.

With five minutes to go, add the spinach leaves and mix these through the stew. It'll look like a lot at first, but these will soon wilt.

Once the spinach leaves have wilted down, adjust the seasoning to taste and serve.

Serving suggestions for vegan butter bean stew

• Basmati/white/brown rice  
• Cajun-spiced potato wedges
• Quinoa 
• Ultimate vegan mashed potatoes 
• Cous cous 
• Roasted cauliflower
• Freshly chopped parsley 
• Or simply enjoy as it is! 

Variations and tips for vegan butter bean stew

• Quantity: You can easily make this stew stretch further with an extra tin of tomatoes and/or beans. 
• Add more veg: Add carrots, mushrooms, courgette, kale, aubergine, sweet potato, or anything else you fancy (or want to use up). You can also include chopped fresh chillies for a bit of extra heat. 
• Use dried beans: To make this dish (and others) even cheaper, you can use dried beans. These will need to be soaked and cooked in advance, with times varying depending on the type.
• Make it a one-pot meal: Thicken the stew with quinoa or bulgur wheat to make it a true one-pot meal.
• Gluten-free: If you need to ensure that this recipe is 100% gluten-free, use a vegan stock that is certified or labelled as such.

See recipe notes for more details.

How to store vegan butter bean stew

Refrigerate: Store this butter bean stew in the fridge for up to four days. Simply reheat in the microwave or in a pan with a splash of water to loosen it up.

Freeze: Store this butter bean stew in the freezer in sealed containers or resealable bags for up to six months. Defrost before reheating in the microwave or in a pan with a splash of water.

Hey you – let me know what you think

If you made this recipe and enjoyed it – or did anything differently – I'd love to hear from you down below in the comments 👇

You can also find me and let me know on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook @thepeskyvegan 🌿

Keep in touch

Subscribe below to receive a weekly newsletter with my latest recipes. Nice and simple. No pesky pestering. No spam (which wouldn’t be very vegan anyway).

First Name

Last Name

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you're human:

More vegan recipe ideas

If you liked this recipe, you may also enjoy:

• Quinoa Stew with Sweet Potato, Broccoli & Lime
• Vegan Sausage Casserole
• Smoky Jackfruit Chilli
• Vegan Stovies (Potato & Red Lentil Stew)
• Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chilli
• Easy Vegan Chana Masala
• Chickpea & Cauliflower Coconut Curry
• White Bean Soup with Lemon & Parsley

You can also check out my full list of vegan mains.

Social follow

🌱 Follow along @thepeskyvegan on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

Further reading

📩 Fancy keeping in touch? Subscribe to my weekly newsletter.

📖 Find out more about my story.

🍽️ Want to get straight to the food? Hop aboard the recipe train.

🌿 Got a question about veganism? You might find the answer in these vegan FAQs.