A chef has shared a simple method for making a creamy pasta sauce without using any cream, instead relying on butter beans for a smooth, velvety texture. Brendan Pang, a chef, cookbook author and former MasterChef Australia contestant, demonstrated the recipe in a recent TikTok video, which has already garnered over 19,900 views.
Pang's recipe aims to provide a lighter alternative to traditional creamy sauces, which can be heavy and unsuitable for those with dairy intolerances. The key ingredient is butter beans, which are blended to create a silky sauce that coats pasta well.
To make the sauce, sauté garlic and red chilli in olive oil, then add butter beans (with their liquid), chicken stock powder and pasta water. Stir in a spoonful of ricotta for extra creaminess, then blend about half the mixture to achieve a smooth base while leaving the rest whole for texture.
Combine the blended and whole bean mixtures with cooked pasta, lemon zest and juice, and fresh spinach. Toss everything together, adding more pasta water if needed until the sauce is silky. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil, black pepper and chilli flakes.
Pang described the dish as 'creamy, zesty and indulgent without being too heavy,' noting it comes together in under 20 minutes using mostly pantry staples. Viewers have praised the recipe, with one comment calling it 'delicious' and another saying they 'definitely' plan to try it.
