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Fagioli all'uccelletto
Fagioli all'uccelletto: Florence's cannellini stewed with sage, garlic and tomato
Florentines are nicknamed mangiafagioli, bean-eaters, and this is the dish that earned it: creamy cannellini simmered in olive oil with whole sage leaves, crushed garlic and a little tomato. The name, 'little-bird style', comes from the sage and garlic once used to cook small game birds, though there has never been a bird in the pot. In trattorie it sits next to grilled meat as a side; served with crusty bread and greens it makes a full vegetarian supper. The beans should be soft and glossy in a thick, rust-coloured sauce. Chef's tip: let the sage and garlic sizzle gently in the oil before the tomato goes in; that scented oil is the whole flavour of the dish.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Warm 5 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil in a heavy pan over a low heat. Add 3 garlic cloves, 10 fresh sage leaves and 1 pinch dried chilli flakes and let them sizzle gently for 3–4 minutes, until the garlic is pale gold and the sage crisp at the edges. Common mistake: a high heat; burnt garlic turns the whole pan bitter.
4 minStep 2: Pour in 14 oz peeled plum tomatoes and simmer over a medium heat for 8 minutes, until slightly thickened and the oil shows red at the edges.
8 minStep 3: Add 1 ¾ lb cooked cannellini beans with a splash of their liquid or water, plus ¾ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper. Stir gently so the beans stay whole.
Step 4: Simmer, half covered, over a low heat for 15 minutes, until the sauce is thick and clings to the beans. Add a little water if it dries out.
15 minStep 5: Rest for 5 minutes off the heat, then serve with a thread of raw olive oil on top.
5 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 340 kcal
- Protein
- 15 g
- Carbs
- 34 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 11 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does fagioli all'uccelletto take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of extra-virgin olive oil?
- Vegetable, sunflower or rapeseed oil, same amount (for cooking; keep olive oil for dressings if you have a little).
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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