Brazilian White Beans Recipe

Learn how to cook dried white beans (northern white, cannellini beans) from scratch with this simple guide. Tips, soaking methods, cooking steps, and personal Brazilian traditions make this recipe both authentic and easy.

Prep Time15

Cook Time2

Total Time2 15

Course: Dinner, Side Dish

Cuisine: Brazilian, Latin

Keyword: brazilian white beans, cannellini beans recipe, dried white beans, how to cook white beans, how to cook white beans from scratch, northern white beans recipe

Servings: people

Author: Silvia Dunnirvine

Equipment

Dutch Oven Pot

Ingredients

1 lb white beans Northern white or cannellini
2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion diced
4 cloves garlic minced
4 bay leaf
1 tsp thyme
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 pinch red pepper flakes
6-8 cups water
3 leaves sage fresh, skip if you don't have fresh

Instructions

Soaking beans overnight or for 6-8 hours by covering the beans with plenty of water, let them soak, and drain before cooking.
NOTE: If you’re short on time, you can use the quick soak method: bring beans and water to a boil for 2 minutes, then turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for 1 hour before draining.
Sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil until golden. Add your beans, fresh herbs, and bay leaves, then cover with water or broth. Start with about 4 cups of water and add more as needed.
Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. White beans will take about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to cook on the stovetop, depending on how old the beans are and how soft you want them. Stir occasionally and add more liquid if needed.
Add salt toward the end of cooking. Check to see if the beans are seasoned to your liking. Adjust seasoning as needed and add any finishing herbs or spices such as red pepper flakes (optional)

Notes

If you’re short on time, you can use the quick soak method: bring beans and water to a boil for 2 minutes, then turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for 1 hour before draining.

Nutrition