lemon miso butter beans with mushrooms and spinach
February 8, 2026

Lemon Miso Butter Beans

These Lemon Miso Butter Beans are a budget friendly, mid-week staple. Made in one pot, and easy to adapt depending on what you have in the cupboard, they’re a super easy dinner idea. Mop up the sauce with crusty bread to make it extra filling.
prep time5 minutes
total time30 minutes
cook time25 minutes

These Lemon Miso Butter Beans are a really simple, nourishing one-pot meal that’s perfect for easy midweek dinners. They’re budget-friendly, family-friendly and need very little washing up, making them a great option.

The butter beans provide plant protein, but they also provide fibre and minerals like potassium plus slow-release carbohydrates.

The fibre matters just as much as the protein, especially for fullness and blood sugar balance. The vegetables add a wide range of phytonutrients, vitamins and prebiotic fibres that help feed the gut microbiome and support immune health. 

So all-round it’s a fantastic, well-balanced dish!

Nutrition Highlights

✅ Good source of plant-based protein – thanks to the butter beans.
✅ High in fibre – from beans, mushrooms, onion, leek and spinach. 15g per portion.
✅ Rich in minerals – miso paste adds iron and potassium, while the beans and spinach provide magnesium.
✅ Supports steady energy – butter beans offer slow-release carbohydrates for balanced energy levels.
✅ Healthy fats – olive oil and coconut milk add fats to help keep you full.

Storage and Shelf Life

These Lemon Miso Butter Beans work really well for leftovers.

  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Allow to cool fully before refrigerating.
  • I don’t recommend freezing this one. 

Recipe Tips:

Miso – if you don’t like the taste of miso, try something like soy or tamari.

Greens – you can swap the spinach for any greens e.g. kale. 

Beans – use any beans for this stew. Cannellini beans are a good substitute or chickpeas would work too. 

lemon miso butter beans with mushrooms and spinach

Lemon Miso Butter Beans

Helen Ridgeway Helen Ridgeway
These Lemon Miso Butter Beans are a budget friendly, mid-week staple. Made in one pot, and easy to adapt depending on what you have in the cupboard, they’re a super easy dinner idea. Mop up the sauce with crusty bread to make it extra filling.
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Servings 4
Calories 360 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • Large white onion
  • Medium leek
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 250 g chestnut mushrooms (9oz)
  • 2 tbsp miso paste
  • 3 x 400g tinned butter beans (3 x 14oz)
  • 180 ml coconut milk (¾ cup)
  • 90 ml stock (⅓ cup)
  • 200 g spinach (7oz)
  • 25 g fresh herbs I used basil and parsley
  • Juice and zest of a lemon
  • Salt & pepper

Instructions
 

  • Finely chop the onion, leek and garlic. In a large frying pan, add the olive oil and fry the onion and leek for 4-5 mins adding the garlic for the last minute or so.
  • Slice the mushrooms and add to the pan. Fry for a few minutes. Drain the beans and add 800g of the beans to the pan with the miso paste and coconut milk. Stir well and simmer for 10 mins.
  • Add the final 400g of beans to a blender with the stock and blend until smooth. Add to the pan and stir well.
  • Finally, add the spinach, chopped herbs and lemon zest/juice to the stew and cook for a couple of minutes to let the spinach wilt. Season to taste and serve.

Notes

  • This can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. I don’t recommend freezing.
  • Serve with lots of crusty bread.
 
*This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission when you purchase through these links (at no extra cost to you). I only endorse products that I personally use or have tested.

Nutrition

Calories: 360kcalCarbohydrates: 46.1gProtein: 19gFat: 14.4gSaturated Fat: 8.8gFiber: 15g
Keyword butter beans, miso
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

16 Comments

  1. Sarah

    When do I add the miso paste?

    Reply
    • Helen Ridgeway

      Hi, it’s when you add the coconut milk.

      Reply
      • Jerry Hall

        5 stars
        What can be used instradbof coconut milk?

        Reply
        • Helen Ridgeway

          You could try something like cream but I haven’t tested it.

          Reply
  2. Maya

    5 stars
    This was incredibly delicious! I used white miso paste and sweet onion.

    Reply
    • Helen Ridgeway

      So pleased you enjoyed this – and thanks for taking the time to review it! x

      Reply
  3. Caroline

    5 stars
    Hello from the UK.
    Enjoyed this very much.
    The flavours were complex and the overall effect is very satisfying.
    I cant eat dairy or gluten and have found your recipes consistently interesting, unusual and delicious.
    I deleted crusty bread and inserted wild rice and it was perfect.
    I used dried basil and parsley, lemon juice from a bottle (no zest) and like the person above, white miso paste.
    Your no-bake brownies (dates, maple syrup, cacao, crushed nuts etc) are super-stunnning.
    Starting to go to your website more often for inspiration!
    Thank you very much.

    Reply
    • Helen Ridgeway

      Hi Caroline, so pleased you’re enjoying the recipes! And thanks so making for taking the time to review them. Much appreciated.

      Reply
  4. JEA

    5 stars
    So easy and delicious – I added some. courgettes (that needed to be used up) with the mushrooms and that worked well too – another new family favourite – thank you!

    Reply
    • Helen Ridgeway

      Thanks so much! So pleased you liked it.

      Reply
  5. Nicki

    Absolutely delish and great for my Dad on his low blood pressure diet

    Reply
    • Helen Ridgeway

      So pleased to hear that you both enjoyed it.

      Reply
  6. Shuna Marr

    5 stars
    This one was really tasty. The combination of miso and lemon gives it a great balance. I didn’t have a leek so I used half a fennel bulb. I replaced the coconut milk with a tablespoon of creamed coconut and blitzed one can of butter beans with its water. I served it with crispy tofu and some roasted vegetables. Really delicious. We’d definitely have this again.

    Reply
    • Helen Ridgeway

      Loving the sound of your swaps! Thanks so much for sharing them. So glad you liked the recipe.

      Reply
  7. Marie

    5 stars
    Loved this recipe! So tasty and nutritional. I’ve never used miso paste before.
    I’m using your recipes weekly and really enjoying your dressing recipes as I’m trying to eat more healthily and the sweet treats are amazing for my sugar cravings. Really grateful to you for posting them so freely. 😊

    Reply
    • Helen Ridgeway

      Thanks so much Marie! Love to hear feedback like this. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

      Reply

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Nutritionist Helen Ridgeway facing camera wearing green apron and white shirt

Hi, I’m Helen,

I’m a Nutritional Therapist based in Harpenden, Hertfordshire with a passion for helping women feel their best through simple, sustainable changes. I believe good nutrition goes beyond food; it’s about supporting your energy, hormones and overall well-being in a way that fits real life.

More about Helen

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