The market · Beans and pulses · Southern Europe

Cannellini beans

White Italian beans — thin-skinned and creamy, and Tuscany's favourite.

creamy · mild

What to do with it

Classics built on it
GalicianCaldo gallegoA plain, restoring broth of turnip tops or cabbage, potatoes and white beans, flavoured with a little cured pork.No one here has made it yet

Goes with

sagegarlicolive oilrosemary

Knowing it

Where to buy
Italian delis. Good jarred beans, often Spanish, are worth the extra over tins.
Worth knowing
Soak overnight, boil for ten minutes, then simmer very gently with sage, garlic and olive oil — a rolling boil splits their skins.

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