Tuscan cuisine is known for turning simple, fresh ingredients into incredibly flavorful dishes. Cannellini beans, hearty greens, cheeses, and cured meats are all staples of the region, with beans playing such an important role that Tuscans are sometimes affectionately called “mangiafagioli,” or “bean-eaters.” For this recipe, we paired these rustic Tuscan-inspired flavors with Trumpets, also known as Gigli, a pasta shape with ruffled edges that are perfect for catching all those delicious ingredients. While this isn’t a traditional Tuscan recipe, it brings together some of the region’s most beloved flavors for a fresh, satisfying meal that’s easy enough for any night of the week.
Tuscan Trumpets with Kale and Cannellini Beans
Tuscan Trumpets with Kale and Cannellini Beans
4-6
Italian
Entree
Tuscan cuisine is known for turning simple, fresh ingredients into incredibly flavorful dishes. Cannellini beans, hearty greens, cheeses, and cured meats are all staples of the region, with beans playing such an important role that Tuscans are som...
Ingredients
1 pound Sfoglini Trumpets
- 8 ounces pancetta, diced
- 1 large shallot, finely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 anchovy fillet
- 1/2 cup dry vermouth or white wine
- 2 bunches lacinato kale (approximately 8 ounces each), stemmed and roughly chopped
- 1 15-ounce can of cannellini beans, not drained
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
- Grated pecorino cheese, to serve
Directions
- Bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil for the pasta, but do not add the pasta yet.
- Heat a large sauté pan over medium low heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until fat has rendered and the pancetta is just cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pan and keeping the heat on medium low.
- Add the shallot and cook gently, stirring occasionally, for 5-10 minutes, or until the shallot has softened and is translucent. Add the garlic and the anchovy and continue to cook for 1 more minute. Increase heat to medium and add the vermouth or white wine. Stir while the alcohol begins to evaporate.
- Once most of the alcohol has evaporated, after about 1 minute, add the kale to the pan, turn the heat off, and cover. Let sit for 2 minutes or until the kale has softened. Stir in the beans (with the liquid) and the tomatoes. Add dollops of the mascarpone nestled into the vegetables so it begins to melt with the residual heat.
- Add the pasta to the boiling water.
- After the pasta has cooked for about 4 minutes, turn the heat to medium on the pan with the kale and bean mixture. Once the pasta is al dente, strain and transfer to the sauté pan and stir it gently into the other ingredients, letting the pasta finish cooking in the sauce. Turn the heat to medium low if necessary to prevent the pasta sticking to the pan.
- Serve topped with plenty of pecorino cheese.