Learn how to cook Italian beans, and never look back. Okay, okay. Having your life changed by beans might sound a touch hyperbolic. However, if you haven't made Italian beans from scratch before and the extent of your cannellini bean experience is the canned stuff, then, yes, this is gonna change your perspective on the humble bean forever! There's a reason white beans are such a staple in the north of Italy, and you're about to find out why.Beans can be scrape-the-bottom-of-the-pot-clean delicious, and they have so much more to offer than even the best brands of canned ones in the store. Not to say we don't love canned beans for their own reasons: it's a pantry staple we always have on hand for quick salad additions, weeknight chilis, bean dips and more. However, if it's a special occasion and beans are the star of the show, you simply have to make them from scratch. It's one of the simplest recipes you'll ever make, and it will take beans from a food you feel indifferent about to something you genuinely crave.Lastly, in case you needed more convincing - dried beans are so inexpensive, it's actually more cost-effective to make them from scratch than to buy cans. Win win. Here's what to do: It all starts with the bean. If you're going to spend the time making beans from scratch, it all starts with a good quality bean. In general, we prefer to stay away from the big bags buried in the grocery store aisles - they may have been sitting there for months and months, and stale beans will never cook up as tender as we want them to be. When buying in stores, we prefer to get them from the bulk bins in health food stores, as the high turnover means they get replenished frequently. While smaller packages of high quality beans are more pricey, those are a great choice as well.For a splurge, heirloom beans are a worthy investment. What makes a bean an "heirloom bean" is that they're grown from seeds that have been passed down through generations of farmers. These beans are often the most flavorful, have the best texture, and are generally the freshest, as the shops that sell them are often supplied directly from the growers.Our top choice? Organic cannellini beans from Agribosco. They come from a company devoted to preserving the sanctity of the land of Monte Cucco, in Umbria, with their natural farming methods. The quality of care in farming and cultivating these beans is so apparent when you take your first bite of these gorgeous beans.While many Italian bean recipes call for cannellini, this same method could work with just about any white bean, like cranberry beans, borlotti, navy or great northern. To soak or not to soak... This might be a hot button topic, but our opinion is that if you have the time to soak your beans, wonderful - soaking them in water overnight will definitely cut down on cooking time and could produce more evenly cooked beans. People also report that soaking them can help reduce any unpleasant bean side effects in your stomach (we all know what I'm talking about here).However, we don't think it's 100% necessary to produce great beans - and sometimes we don't have that kind of foresight when we want to cook them. Giada doesn't opt to do it in her white beans with cavolo nero, and they're always delicious. And our team has never had issues with gut troubles after eating un-soaked beans, as long as they're cooked through all the way. However, it's up to you! Our opinion? Try it out both ways and see what suits you (and your stomach). Don't skimp on the oil and salt! You'll find most bean recipes call for oil, and with good reason. A generous glug of olive oil seasons the broth and the beans, and imparts a sumptuous, velvety texture as well. Additionally, a layer of oil on top your pot helps keep the beans submerged in water, which promotes even cooking. Even after the beans are totally done cooking, we think it's essential to add another hearty drizzle of your favorite olive oil.Like all starches, beans need a lot of salt. Some say salting too early in the cooking process can result in tough beans, so, we opt for salting near the end. The beans still have some time to soak up the salt, and they remain perfectly tender. You might need a lot more salt than you think - start small and keep tasting! Make it your own. Giada's recipe is a starting-off point - it results in absolutely delicious beans, so you certainly don't have to change up the recipe one bit - but you can bump up the flavor even more with your favorite aromatic ingredients. Herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, or bay leaf are wonderful additions. A charred lemon or onion half will add an incredible depth of flavor, and a Parmesan rind adds an unbeatably savory quality. Okay - we think you're ready. Get to cooking your Italian beans, and report back once your life has been changed!
This Sautéed White Beans with Garlic, Sage and Tomatoes couldn't be easier to prepare, but is so full of robust flavor, you won't believe how quickly you'll be getting this to your table. Simple ingredients and wonderful flavors. It is wonderful served warm or at room temperature.
Less is more. How about these lukewarm braised Italian white beans in lots of olive oil then? This is my favorite white beans recipe ever!
These Tuscan Stewed Beans are the ultimate rustic Italian comfort food! Made with simple pantry-friendly ingredients like onions, garlic, tomato paste and white beans, but big on gourmet Italian flavor. It's cozy and indulgent yet wholesome, vegan, and gluten-free.
Less is more. How about these lukewarm braised Italian white beans in lots of olive oil then? This is my favorite white beans recipe ever!
A simple recipe for Italian Baked Beans, with kale, cannellini beans, and your favorite homemade (or store-bought) Marinara sauce, baked in the oven until golden and bubbling. A delicious vegetarian main! Vegan adaptable and Gluten-free.
You are going to love these Italian Borlotti beans cooked down until thick and creamy with leeks, garlic and olive oil. A simple but so delicious hearty bean stew brimming with a nutty savory flavor balanced perfectly by a little tomato sweetness.
Pasta and fagioli is a comforting traditional Italian meal combining pasta and beans into a flavorful broth with tomato and aromatic herbs.This recipe represents the essence of Italian home cooking: using simple ingredients to create a wholesome, tasty, and nutritious meal.
This vegetarian Italian bean casserole recipe is made with two different types of beans: borlotti and cannellini. Bean casseroles are hearty and filling, and this one is flavoured with lemon, garlic, white wine and fresh herbs. Prefer butter beans? Then you’ll love our vegetarian butter bean and vegetable stew.
Cannellini beans are cooked in crushed tomatoes flavored with garlic and fresh sage.
This Tuscan Cannellini Bean Salad is full of plant protein from white beans and is bursting with Italian flavors. The perfect Summer meal prep recipe!
A simple recipe for Italian Baked Beans, with kale, cannellini beans, and your favorite homemade (or store-bought) Marinara sauce, baked in the oven until golden and bubbling. A delicious vegetarian main! Vegan adaptable and Gluten-free.
These tender beans would be a great side dish for grilled or roasted meats.
Pasta and fagioli is a comforting traditional Italian meal combining pasta and beans into a flavorful broth with tomato and aromatic herbs.This recipe represents the essence of Italian home cooking: using simple ingredients to create a wholesome, tasty, and nutritious meal.
You are going to love these Italian Borlotti beans cooked down until thick and creamy with leeks, garlic and olive oil. A simple but so delicious hearty bean stew brimming with a nutty savory flavor balanced perfectly by a little tomato sweetness.
