11 Simple Recipes to Honor St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day we celebrate on October 4th, is remembered for his radical simplicity, deep humility, and love for creation. He saw all creatures – human, animal, and the nature they live in – as reflections of God’s love. While grand banquets don’t fit the Franciscan spirit, a feast in his honor can still be meaningful when it is rooted in simplicity, gratitude, and earth’s abundance.
This roundup brings together recipes inspired by St. Francis’s Italian heritage and his devotion to humble, nourishing foods. Think rustic breads, legumes, garden vegetables, and dishes that honor creation without excess. These recipes invite us to gather at the table with gratitude and share a meal that reflects St. Francis’s joy in simple living.
Historical Note: St. Francis & Food
Francis himself went from living in ultimate opulence to living on very little. He ended up subsisting on bread, herbs, and whatever alms were given. Accounts from his early followers describe his preference for plain foods, yet he also saw meals as opportunities for fellowship and thanksgiving. Medieval Umbrian peasant fare was built around bread, beans, wild greens, nuts, and fruit. To cook in Francis’s honor, we can take inspiration from those same rustic ingredients, crafting dishes that are both wholesome and celebratory in their simplicity.
Personal Note from My Kitchen
Whenever Francis’ feast day approaches, I think about the balance between abundance and humility in my own kitchen. As a working mom, I often long for the simplicity found in fewer ingredients, fewer steps, and more time to savor. Cooking for St. Francis gives me permission to pare back, to focus on the beauty of seasonal vegetables or a loaf of warm bread. It’s also a day where I like to cook something meatless, in solidarity with his care for animals and the earth.
An Ancient Recipe: Umbrian Farro & Chestnut Porridge
One of the staples of medieval Umbrian cooking was chestnuts, a foraged food that sustained the poor through the leaner months. Combined with farro, an ancient grain still beloved in central Italy, this porridge is warming, earthy, and satisfying.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup farro, rinsed
- 1 cup peeled chestnuts (boiled or roasted)
- 4 cups water or vegetable broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Pinch of salt
- Fresh rosemary (optional)
Instructions:
- In a pot, combine farro, chestnuts, and water. Bring to a boil.
- Lower heat and simmer until the farro is tender and chestnuts are soft (about 30–35 minutes).
- Mash some of the chestnuts into the broth for a creamy texture.
- Stir in olive oil, season with salt, and garnish with rosemary if desired.
Serve warm with rustic bread.
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10 Simple Recipes to Celebrate St. Francis of Assisi
Umbrian Lentil Soup
This Umbrian Lentil Soup with Pasta is the kind of recipe that feels just right for St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day. It’s simple, rustic, and straight from the heart of Umbria where Francis lived. Lentils, veggies, and pasta come together in a cozy one-pot meal that’s filling without being fussy. Jacqui’s Vegetarian Umbrian Lentil Soup with Pasta from The Pasta Project is the kind of everyday food Francis himself might have enjoyed, and it’s perfect for an autumn table when you want something nourishing and grounded.
Rosemary Focaccia
If there’s ever a bread that feels right for celebrating St. Francis of Assisi, it’s this Wild Garlic & Rosemary Focaccia from Daen Lia over at Daen’s Kitchen. The recipe is as approachable as it is beautiful — a no-knead method that lets the olive oil, garlic confit, and rosemary do all the talking. What I love is how it takes pantry staples and turns them into something that feels abundant but still humble, very much in the Franciscan spirit. It’s golden and crisp on the outside, pillowy on the inside, and just begging to be torn and shared around the table.
Chickpeas with Olive Oil & Garlic
This Greek Marinated Chickpeas recipe from Nicole Addison at Nourished by Nic is such a good fit for a St. Francis of Assisi feast. It’s simple, zesty, and full of plant-based goodness—olive oil, lemon, oregano, fresh herbs—all things that feel alive and earthy. The chickpeas add protein without fuss. This feels like food Francis might’ve appreciated: honest, nourishing, easy to share. Nicole’s version turns something humble into a flavorful side or main for wraps, salads, bowls … perfect for gathering around a table and celebrating creation without excess.
Stuffed Eggplants with Herbs & Bulgur
This Bulgur Stuffed Eggplant with Fresh Herbs & Tahini-Yogurt Drizzle from Daniela at Waves in the Kitchen is exactly the kind of humble, hearty dish that feels right for St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day. Eggplants roasted until soft and caramelized, bulgur mixed with fresh herbs, pine nuts, barberries, and finished with a bright tahini-yogurt drizzle — it’s simple, earthy, and deeply satisfying. It’s the kind of recipe where the flavors shine without needing anything fancy, and the kind of meal Francis might’ve enjoyed sharing.
Farro Salad with Roasted Vegetables
The roasted root veggies—like butternut squash and rainbow carrots—bring warmth, and the farro adds that chewy, ancient-grain feel that makes you slow down. Warm Farro Salad with Roasted Root Vegetables by Deborah Murphy at Dietitian Debbie pulls it all together with lemon, rosemary, spinach, pistachios, and cranberries. It’s simple, hearty, and earthy without being fussy—exactly the kind of seasonal, nourishing food that feels right for celebrating St. Francis of Assisi.
Wild Greens & White Bean Stew
The mix of tender white beans, hearty greens, and a splash of lemon makes this one of those recipes you want to eat on a cool evening when you’re craving comfort without heaviness. Braised White Beans & Greens by Melanie McDonald at A Virtual Vegan combines simple pantry staples — garlic, herbs, stock — and turns them into something cozy and full of flavor. It feels like food that honors St. Francis of Assisi: nourishing, accessible, rooted in nature. Perfect for sharing, for leftovers, for “just-because” meals.
Walnut & Sage Pesto Pasta
There’s something about the mix of sage, walnuts, garlic, and good olive oil that just feels like fall on a plate. Walnut Sage Pesto by Colleen Milne at The Food Blog takes fresh garden herbs and turns them into something vibrant, earthy, and unexpectedly cozy. It’s quick to pull together, but the flavor feels deep—nutty walnuts, fragrant sage, a bit of lemon brightness, garlic warmth. Perfect for honoring St. Francis of Assisi, it is simple, herbal, sharing friendly. Use it on roasted veggies, stirred into pasta, or even as a dip for bread, and you’ve got a dish that brings people to the table without any fuss.
Roasted Figs with Honey & Thyme
There’s something magical about figs roasted until soft and a little caramelized—the way their sweetness deepens and their juices almost turn jammy. Zerrin & Yusuf’s Simple Oven Roasted Figs at GiveRecipe drizzles honey, sprinkles cinnamon, and adds rosemary to fresh figs, turning them into a dessert that feels both indulgent and gentle. It’s hands‐off enough so you can put it in the oven and let it work its wonder, yet impressive enough to serve to guests. For St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day, this recipe fits beautifully: modest ingredients, earth-born flavors, and something sweet made from what grows. Great served warm, with a spoonful of cream or yogurt, or simply on their own to end the meal with gratitude.
Chestnut & Mushroom Ragù over Polenta
There’s something about mushrooms slow-cooked with red wine, garlic, herbs, and tomato that makes you feel like you’ve wandered into a forest kitchen. Mushroom Ragout with Creamy Polenta by Alida Ryder at Simply Delicious blends those deep, rustic flavors with silky, warm polenta. It’s the kind of one-pot meal you want on a chilly evening, where the ragout’s earthiness meets the creamy bed of polenta in a way that feels grounding. Perfect for the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, because it honors simplicity, the beauty of mushrooms, and food that nourishes without show. Great for sharing, leftovers, or just a quiet meal that makes you grateful.
Olive Oil Cake with Citrus Zest
There’s something so cheering about citrus + oil in a cake — it feels sunny, fresh, yet grounded. Lemon Olive Oil Cake by Sam at Buttermilk by Sam combines olive oil, bright lemon juice & zest, a tender crumb, and a lemon soak that sinks right in after baking. The cake stays moist for days and has enough lemony tartness to wake up your taste buds without being overwhelming. For St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day, this is exactly the kind of dessert that fits: simple, made from good ingredients, and sweet enough to feel like a treat (but humble enough to feel like gratitude). Serve it plain, or with a dollop of whipped cream or fresh fruit, and you’ve got something to linger over.
A Table Blessing for St. Francis’s Day
“Lord, we thank You for the gift of creation
…earth, animals, and all that sustains us.
May this meal remind us of Your simplicity and generosity.
May we, like St. Francis, delight in Your world
and share it with joy.
Amen.”
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