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Bud Spencer-Style Beans, The Original Recipe

Bud Spencer-Style Beans are a culinary specialty that originated from one of the most famous Bud Spencer and Terence Hill movies: "They Call Me Trinity." This iconic dish gained popularity after being featured in the classic Western film.
Recipe Bud Spencer-Style Beans, The Original Recipe
  • Difficulty Easy
  • Preparation 15 minutes
  • Servings for Serves 4

Bud Spencer-Style Beans are a culinary specialty that originated from one of the most famous Bud Spencer and Terence Hill movies: They Call Me Trinity.

Also known as Bud’s Beans or Trinity’s Beans, this delicious variation of the traditional Tuscan Fagioli all’Uccelletto (beans cooked with sage and tomatoes) became part of Italian cinema history thanks to an epic scene in the beloved western film where Terence Hill enthusiastically devours an entire pan of beans in just a few minutes!

Rumor has it that Terence Hill fasted for 24 hours to make the scene as authentic as possible. Whether true or not, this dish changed both Italian cinema history and our culinary tradition. In fact, the term bean-western was coined in 1970 with this scene, as an Italian spin-off of the then-popular spaghetti-western genre.

But where did the idea for this recipe come from? The inspiration certainly comes from Tex-Mex cuisine, recreated in an Italian version using only local ingredients! A truly delicious dish!

And to perfectly accompany these tasty Terence Hill-Style Beans (just like in the legendary movie scene), you should definitely prepare a fantastic and fragrant Rustic Pot Bread; it will be a truly winning combination!

If you’re looking for other delicious recipes inspired by distant lands, dishes that were always featured in the mythical Spaghetti Westerns – the great Italian Western films – then you absolutely must check out the Chili con Carne Recipe, the American Apple Pie Recipe, or, staying on the bean theme, the BBQ Beans Recipe.

Ingredients for Serves 4

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Method

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  1. To prepare Bud Spencer Style Beans, start by heating some olive oil in a pan, then add chopped onion and garlic clove. Let them brown well and add the sausage cut into small chunks.
  2. Cook the sausage thoroughly, breaking it up into smaller pieces, and once browned, deglaze with white wine. When the sausage is fully cooked, add the drained beans (from their preservation liquid), chili pepper, and mix well.
  3. Now add the tomato pulp and bay leaf, mix everything carefully and cook for a few minutes. Season with salt and pepper before finishing. Once cooked, serve your Bud Spencer Style Beans with slices of rustic bread (as traditionally done in Italy) and pair with a good glass of red wine. Finally, remember to download our App with exclusive content and fewer ads!

Variations and Alternatives

If fresh chili peppers are not available, you can use chili powder or chili-infused oil instead. For an extra touch, you can enrich your Bud Spencer Beans with diced bacon.

Tips

To best respect the recipe and its history, we recommend using only canned products for both beans and tomatoes. While this may sound unusual, it’s the authentic way to capture the essence of this dish, inspired by Bud Spencer’s movies. If desired, you can add cured sausage, but remember to adjust the salt accordingly.

Storage

Bud Spencer Style Beans can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

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