Name: Cranberry Beans (Brothy Borlotti Bean Recipe)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 4 Servings
Cuisine: Italian

Balancing Bowls Verified

January 26, 2026

Enjoy these creamy, flavorful cranberry beans as a comforting side dish, mixed into a stew, or even as part of a salad. They're versatile, packed with plant protein, and full of rich, earthy flavor-a perfect addition to your kitchen lineup! Cranberry beans are one of the prettiest beans out there, with their striking creamy white skin splashed with pink or maroon speckles. While the color fades once cooked, their rich, creamy texture and mildly nutty flavor more than make up for it.

Cranberry Beans (Brothy Borlotti Bean Recipe)

Cranberry Beans (Brothy Borlotti Bean Recipe) cover

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Cranberry Beans (Brothy Borlotti Bean Recipe)

Balancing Bowls Verified

Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.

Add the cranberry beans, water or broth, bay leaf, thyme, red pepper flakes, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer until the beans are tender (30 minutes for fresh beans, 1-1.5 hours for dried beans).

Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprig. Garnish with fresh chopped oregano before serving.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Bean Soaking Secrets 💧
Soak dried cranberry beans overnight in cold water with a pinch of baking soda to soften their skin and reduce cooking time by up to 30%.
Aromatics Layering Technique 🧅
Slowly caramelize onions and garlic in olive oil before adding beans to build a deep, rich flavor foundation that transforms the entire dish.
Fresh Herb Infusion Magic 🌿
Tie fresh oregano, thyme, and bay leaf together in a bundle to create an easy-to-remove herb sachet that infuses maximum flavor without leaving herb bits behind.
Liquid Level Mastery 🥄
Always keep beans just barely covered with liquid during cooking - this ensures creamy texture and prevents them from drying out or becoming tough.
Seasoning Elevation Hack 🌶️
Toast red pepper flakes in olive oil before adding to the beans to unlock their deeper, more complex heat and aroma profile.

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About the Cook

Balancing Bowls

I'm Nora! Balancing Bowls is the product of a slightly chaotic life, a need to make and grow things, and a love of creative cooking. If you're here because you're trying to feed your family well without losing your mind, you're in the right place.