05/31/2026
๐ค ๐ฒ JUST SAY โBUD SPENCERโ IF YOU LOVE A BIG BOWL OF BEANS!! ๐ฒ๐ค
This is the kind of recipe that walks into the kitchen, slams the door, and says: โIโm hungryโฆ bring the bread.โ ๐๐ฎ๐น
If you grew up watching those classic Italian Spaghetti Western comedies, you already know the scene: Bud Spencer sitting at a rustic wooden table, eating a giant pan of beans like a true cowboy king.
This Fagioli alla Bud Spencer is hearty, smoky, rustic, and full of old-school Italian comfort. Itโs the perfect bowl for cold nights, hungry families, and anyone who believes dinner should come with flavor, laughter, and maybe a little dramatic Western music in the background. ๐ค ๐ฅ
๐ SAVE OR PRINT RECIPE HERE:
https://mangiawithnonna.com/the-spaghetti-western-beans-soup-fagioli-alla-bud-spencer/
๐ค The Spaghetti Western Beans Soup
๐ฎ๐น Fagioli alla Bud Spencer
A rustic Italian bean soup made with cannellini beans, tomatoes, pancetta, onion, garlic, and smoky spices. Simple, filling, and absolutely perfect with crusty bread.
โฑ๏ธ Cooking Time & Servings
๐ Prep Time: 10 minutes
๐ณ Cook Time: 1 hour
โฐ Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
๐ฝ๏ธ Servings: 4
๐ Ingredients
๐ซ For the Beans Soup
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 ounces pancetta, diced
or smoked bacon, if preferred
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can crushed tomatoes, 28 ounces
2 cans cannellini beans, 15 ounces each, drained and rinsed
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
ยฝ teaspoon black pepper
ยฝ teaspoon salt, or to taste
ยฝ cup vegetable broth or chicken broth
add more if you prefer it soupier
1 tablespoon tomato paste, optional, for richer flavor
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Extra olive oil, for drizzling
๐ฉโ๐ณ Instructions
1๏ธโฃ Sautรฉ the Pancetta
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
Add the diced pancetta and cook until golden, crispy, and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
2๏ธโฃ Add the Onion and Garlic
Stir in the chopped onion and cook for 3โ4 minutes, until soft and translucent.
Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
3๏ธโฃ Build the Tomato Base
Pour in the crushed tomatoes.
Add the tomato paste, if using, and stir well, scraping up all the flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
4๏ธโฃ Season Like a Cowboy Nonna
Add the smoked paprika, dried oregano, black pepper, and salt.
Stir everything together until the sauce smells rich, smoky, and ready for trouble. ๐ค
5๏ธโฃ Add the Beans
Add the cannellini beans and broth.
Stir gently so the beans stay mostly whole, but everything gets coated in that beautiful tomato sauce.
6๏ธโฃ Simmer Until Thick and Creamy
Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 30โ40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
The soup should become thick, creamy, and rustic. If it gets too thick, add a little more broth.
7๏ธโฃ Serve Bud Spencer Style
Spoon into bowls, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with fresh parsley.
Serve hot with crusty bread โ preferably the kind of bread strong enough to survive a Western movie fight scene. ๐๐
๐ค Nonnaโs Tips & Tricks
๐ถ๏ธ Add a Little Heat
For a spicy kick, sautรฉ a small chili pepper with the pancetta.
๐ซ Make It Creamier
Mash a few beans with a fork while the soup simmers. This makes the broth thicker and richer without adding cream.
๐ท Add More Depth
Add a splash of red wine while simmering for a deeper, smoky, campfire-style flavor.
๐ Donโt Forget the Bread
This recipe practically demands crusty bread. No bread? Nonna may ask questions. Serious questions. ๐
๐ฒ Why Youโll Love This Recipe
โ
Hearty and comforting
โ
Made with simple pantry ingredients
โ
Smoky, rustic, and full of flavor
โ
Perfect for cold nights
โ
Budget-friendly
โ
Inspired by classic Italian cinema
โ
Excellent with bread, wine, and cowboy confidence ๐ค
๐ Funny Nonna Moment
When Nonna saw Bud Spencer eating beans straight from the pan, she didnโt say, โThatโs too much.โ
She said:
โFinallyโฆ a man with a normal appetite.โ ๐๐ฎ๐น
๐ SAVE OR PRINT RECIPE HERE:
https://mangiawithnonna.com/the-spaghetti-western-beans-soup-fagioli-alla-bud-spencer/
