Fagioli all'Uccelletto
White beans stewed with tomato, garlic, and sage.
Ingredients
- 2 tin Cannellini beans
- 250 ml Tomato passata
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 8 Sage
- 4 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp Salt
- 6 slices Bread (optional)
Method
- Peel and thinly slice the garlic, and pick the sage leaves from their stems.
- Warm the garlic and whole sage leaves in the olive oil over medium heat until the garlic is fragrant and the sage crisps, about 3 minutes; watch so the garlic does not brown.
- Add the passata, beans, and salt; simmer gently until thick and glossy, about 15 minutes, stirring once or twice so the beans stay intact.
- While the beans simmer, toast the bread until golden and crisp.
- Serve the beans warm with the toasted bread.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Fagioli all'Uccelletto
Fagioli all'Uccelletto is a Tuscan classic of white beans stewed with tomato, garlic, and sage, a dish whose curious name means "in the manner of little birds," a nod to the sage-and-garlic seasoning once used for cooking game. It reflects the Tuscan reputation as mangiafagioli, or bean-eaters, turning a handful of pantry staples into something comforting and complete. Vegan and ready in about twenty-five minutes, it works as a side or, with bread, as a light main.
The beans stay tender and intact in a glossy tomato sauce perfumed by fried sage and sweet garlic, giving each spoonful a mellow, herbal savoriness rather than sharp acidity. The trick lies in warming the garlic and whole sage leaves gently in olive oil until fragrant and crisp before the tomato goes in, so their flavor infuses the fat without the garlic browning and turning bitter. Simmered just until thick and stirred only sparingly to keep the cannellini whole, it is served warm with toasted bread, and pairs naturally with grilled sausage or roast meats in the Tuscan style.
Fagioli all'Uccelletto: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Fagioli all'Uccelletto?
A serving has about 283 calories — 10.9g protein, 36.9g carbs, 10.8g fat, 6.4g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Fagioli all'Uccelletto gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Bread. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
How long does Fagioli all'Uccelletto take to make?
About 25 minutes start to finish, but only around 7 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Fagioli all'Uccelletto?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out bread — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Fagioli all'Uccelletto make?
This recipe makes 6 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.