Fagioli all'Uccelletto (Tuscan Beans in Tomato and Sage)
Creamy cannellini beans simmered in tomato, garlic and plenty of sage, a classic Tuscan side or light supper.
Made with Basic tomato sauce and Soffritto. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.63 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the olive oil in a wide pan over a medium heat. Add the garlic and sage and cook for 1 minute until the sage crisps and the garlic is just golden.
1 min - 2
Add your ready made soffritto (see the base recipe) and the chilli flakes and stir for 2 minutes.
2 min - 3
Pour in your ready made basic tomato sauce (see the base recipe) and bring to a simmer.
- 4
Add the cannellini beans and 100 ml water. Simmer gently for 15 minutes, stirring now and then, until the sauce is thick and clings to the beans.
15 min - 5
Mash a few beans against the side of the pan to thicken the sauce.
- 6
Season, drizzle with olive oil and serve hot with toasted bread or alongside grilled sausages.
Tips
- Cook the garlic gently, as burnt garlic turns bitter and spoils the whole pot.
- Use dried beans if you have time. Soak 250 g overnight, boil for 1 hour until creamy and use in place of the tinned beans.
- A pinch of salt only at the end; tinned beans and sauce can already be seasoned.
Storing and freezing
Cool quickly and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freezes for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Is this dish vegan?
Yes. It contains only beans, vegetables, herbs and olive oil, so it is vegan, gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free.
Why is it called all'uccelletto?
It means in the style of little birds. The name refers to cooking beans with sage and garlic the way small game birds are cooked in Tuscany. The dish itself has no meat.
More made with basic tomato sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.