Tuscan Beef with Cannellini Beans & Sage
by Lidia Bastianich on Nov 20, 2025
As part of the PBS special Lidia Celebrates America: A Nation of Neighbors, Lidia visits No Res Gourmet—a grassroots culinary movement founded by Firas Ayyad to bring gourmet meals to those in need. What began in Firas’s kitchen as a simple act of kindness has grown into a vibrant community effort, fueled by volunteers and a shared love of food. “The idea is, as the name suggests, that it's a gourmet meal,” Firas explains. “…This is the kind of experience that somebody who may be experiencing homelessness or in an underserved community or just experienced tragedy through the fires does not have access to. …It's nutritionally well calculated to provide the proteins and the carbs and the calories that you need for a day.” Tuscan Beef with Cannellini Beans and Sage — one of the dishes prepared during Lidia’s visit — is a rustic, comforting recipe that embodies the warmth of Italian tradition and the spirit of neighborly care.
- Course
- Entree
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups chopped greens (kale or chard)
- 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh sage
Instructions
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Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
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Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more, stirring frequently.
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Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through. Season with the salt, pepper, rosemary, and sage.
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Stir in the chopped greens and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.
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Remove from the heat and fold in the drained beans until evenly combined. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve warm.
