The annual trip to Salento was going to be different this time. I was a newly fledged Vegan. No calamari or mozzarella for me. Could I do it? Actually yes I could! Any very easily. All the produce is so incredibly delicious in Salento with a heavy focus on vegetables. And the beans! So many beans. After all, Salento is known for its Cucina Povera (poor kitchen) And that’s where my new favourite dish of the trip came in – the humble cannellini bean.

Words can’t really describe how amazing they tasted. Buttery, creamy and melt in the mouth. One morning my auntie called me over to give me some food. She ladled the golden buttery beans into a big bowl and told me before eating them pour olive oil all over them – sounded good to me! That evening when we sat down to eat them we could not stop. Seconds then thirds. They made us feel amazing!

I often daydream about those beans. And that’s why I’ve tried to recreate them at home. We spoke lots about veganism on that trip, I’d only started eating vegan a few weeks before our holiday. “But It’s going to be so hard for you to not have the fish or what about the burrata”?! But when reflecting back on the trip, what do you think everyone’s favourite dish was? The cannellini beans! Plant Power!

I have to admit the beans I made here in the UK don’t taste as good as those in Italy. You just can’t beat handpicked beans from a local farmer. They were also a lot smaller then the ones we are used to over here. So if you can get your hands on some young dried cannellini beans I think they will be much tastier.

 Ingredients 

500g   Dried cannellini beans

2          Garlic cloves (peeled)

2          Tomatoes

A generous pinch of oregano

A generous pinch of sea salt and pepper

Olive oil

Method – Makes a big bowl

1. Soak the beans overnight.
2. Put the beans in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Approximately 2 inches above the beans. Add the two cloves of garlic.
3. Bring the beans to the boil, then simmer for about 30 minutes. Keep an eye on them and remove any scum from the top of the water.
4. After they’ve had 30 minutes strain the beans removing the water, then return to the pan. Pour over some boiling water until they are just covered. Add the seasoning, oregano, and tomatoes. Let them simmer again until they are lovely and soft and the water has nearly evaporated.
5. To serve, pour a very generous amount of olive oil over them.