Description
A rustic and traditional pasta-and-bean dish from the Abruzzo region of Italy, Sagne e Fagioli features handmade semolina pasta tossed with creamy borlotti beans, fresh vegetables, and a hint of cayenne for warmth. A hearty, comforting meal rooted in Italian home cooking.
Ingredients
Pasta:
600 g durum wheat semolina flour
300 ml water
1 tsp salt
Sauce:
600 g dried borlotti beans (or canned borlotti beans)
6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 slices onion, chopped (divided)
3 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
80 g finely diced smoked turkey
Cayenne powder, to taste
Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Beans: Place shelled and washed borlotti beans in a saucepan with carrot, celery, and one chopped slice of onion. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Add salt, cover, and simmer for about 45 minutes, until tender. Drain, reserving cooking water, and set aside.
- Make the Pasta: On a work surface, mound the semolina and form a well. Add water and salt, mixing gradually to form a firm dough. Knead until smooth and elastic. Divide into 6 pieces and roll each through a pasta machine, gradually thinning to about 1.5 mm. Cut into strips 1 cm wide and 6–8 cm long to form sagne. Dust with flour and let rest 20 minutes.
- Prepare the Sauce: Heat olive oil in a large pan over low heat. Add garlic and smoked turkey; cook until lightly crisp, then remove turkey and set aside. Add the remaining onion and cook until translucent. Stir in chopped tomatoes and cook 10 minutes. Add the cooked beans and a ladle of their cooking water. Simmer for 10 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Cook the Pasta: Boil salted water and cook the sagne until al dente. Drain, reserving some water.
- Combine and Serve: Add pasta to the pan with beans and tomatoes. Add a ladle of bean water and cook together for a few minutes, stirring until creamy. Return the smoked turkey, drizzle with olive oil, and season with cayenne. Serve warm.
Notes
Use canned borlotti beans for a quicker version—just rinse and add directly to the sauce.
Skip the smoked turkey for a vegetarian option and add more olive oil or herbs.
Add thyme or rosemary for extra aroma.
Replace borlotti beans with cannellini beans if preferred.
Freeze the bean-tomato base separately and cook fresh pasta when ready to serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 78g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
