🇮🇹 Italian · Main Dish
🌭 Salsiccia e Fagioli alla Toscana
Salsiccia e Fagioli
A simple, hearty Tuscan pairing of grilled or pan-seared sausage with cannellini beans stewed in tomato and sage, a reliable trattoria staple found throughout the region.
This dish embodies Tuscan simplicity at its best, needing little more than good sausage and beans, the sage-scented tomato sauce doing most of the work to bring the two together into a genuinely satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Equipment: Large pot, Large skillet
- 8 Italian sausages
- 400 g (2 cups) dried cannellini beans, soaked overnight (or 2 cans, drained)
- 3 cloves garlic, sliced
- 8–10 fresh sage leaves
- 400 g (14 oz) canned crushed tomatoes
- 80 ml (⅓ cup) extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Method
- If using dried beans, simmer the soaked beans in fresh water until tender, about 1 hour, then drain.
- Warm half the olive oil in a large pot and sauté the garlic and sage until fragrant.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and cooked beans, and simmer for 15–20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, warm the remaining oil in a skillet and cook the sausages until browned and cooked through, about 15–18 minutes.
- Season the beans to taste.
- Serve the sausages alongside a generous portion of the beans.
Chef Tips
- Cook the garlic gently in the oil to avoid bitterness, which would compound with the beans' mild flavor.
- Good-quality, well-seasoned sausage makes a real difference in this simple dish.
- This is an excellent make-ahead dish, as the beans improve with a little resting time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Burning the garlic while infusing the oil, which turns the whole dish bitter.
- Overcooking the beans until they turn mushy rather than staying intact.
- Using bland sausage, which is a primary flavor component of this simple pairing.
Nutrition (per serving)
Health Benefits
- Cannellini beans provide plant-based protein and fiber.
Cultural Note
Salsiccia e fagioli is a reliable, beloved staple across Tuscan trattorie, exemplifying the region's confidence in simple, well-executed combinations.
Storage & Serving
Storage: The beans keep refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Reheating: Reheat gently on the stovetop.
Serve with: Crusty bread, A robust Tuscan red wine