Pasta E Fagioli Recipe Italian Pasta Bean Soup Food

PASTA E FAGIOLI (ITALIAN PASTA AND BEANS)

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat, warm 3 tablespoons of the olive oil until shimmering. Add the chopped onion, carrot, celery, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and about 10 twists of black pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables have softened and the onions are turning translucent, about 6 to 10 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, stir, and cook until the tomatoes are bubbling all over. Add the broth, water, bay leaves, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
• Raise the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, and reducing the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer.
• Use a heat-safe measuring cup to transfer about 1 1/2 cups of the soup (avoiding the bay leaves) to a blender. Add about 3/4 cup of the drained beans. Securely fasten the lid and blend until completely smooth, being careful to avoid hot steam escaping from the lid. Pour the blended mixture back into the soup.
• Add the remaining beans, pasta, kale and parsley to the simmering soup. Continue cooking, stirring often to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot, for about 20 minutes, or until the pasta and greens are pleasantly tender.
• Remove the pot from the heat, then remove and discard the bay leaves. Stir in the lemon juice, the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Taste and season with more salt (I usually add another 1/4 teaspoon) and pepper until the flavors really sing. Garnish bowls of soup as desired, and serve.
• Leftovers taste even better the next day. Allow leftover soup to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Or, freeze leftover soup in individual portions and defrost as necessary.

PASTA AND BEANS: PASTA E FAGIOLI

Steps:

• Heat a deep pot over medium high heat and add oil and pancetta. Brown the pancetta bits lightly, and add herb stems, bay leaf, chopped vegetables, and garlic. Season vegetables with salt and pepper. Add beans, tomato sauce, water, and stock to pot and raise heat to high. Bring soup to a rapid boil and add pasta. Reduce heat to medium and cook soup, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes or until pasta is cooked al dente. Rosemary and thyme leaves will separate from stems as soup cooks. Remove herb stems and bay leaf from soup and place pot on table on a trivet. Let soup rest and begin to cool for a few minutes. Ladle soup into bowls and top with lots of grated cheese. Pass crusty bread for bowl mopping.

PASTA E FAGIOLI (PASTA & BEAN SOUP)

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Saute and crumble the sausage until browned. (You could also cook the whole sausages in their casings until golden brown and cut into 1/4-inch slices.) Remove sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• In a large saucepan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, celery, carrots, parsley, oregano and red pepper flakes. Cook until onion is transparent, about 10 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the crushed tomatoes with their juices, red wine, chicken broth and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes, partially covered. Stir in the beans and sausage. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, 8 to 11 minutes, according to package instructions.
• Drain the pasta and add it to the other ingredients. Stir well. Turn heat to low and and let mixture rest in the covered pot for 10 minutes before serving.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and serve with grated cheese.
• Mangia Bene!

VEGETARIAN PASTA E FAGIOLI (PASTA AND BEANS)

Steps:

• In a large heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat.
• Stir in onion with a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add dried herbs and red pepper flakes into the oil and toss to coat to bring out some of the dried herbs' flavors.
• Stir in garlic, and then celery, and carrots and cook for about 3 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes and stock and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
• If necessary add an additional cup of stock or water and stir in beans and tiny pasta.
• Simmer for 6-8 minutes or until pasta is tender.
• Stir in parsley and serve hot with grated parmesan and freshly ground black pepper.

ZUPPA DI FAGIOLI CON LA PASTA (ITALIAN BEAN SOUP WITH PASTA)

Steps:

• Sort and wash beans. Place in heavy stock pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for about an hour. Drain. Add ham hocks and water to cover. Cook until the beans are tender and meat is easy to remove from bones. (2 - 3 hours).
• Drain, reserving 2 cups of liquid. Remove meat from ham bones and set meat aside.
• Sauté onion, carrots, garlic, procuitto and mushrooms in olive oil until tender.
• Add ham, beans, the 2 cups of reserved bean liquid and 6 cups of chicken stock. Cook several hours.
• Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse well. Add to soup. Heat through.
• Serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

PASTA E FAGIOLI (ITALIAN SOUP) WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium high heat.
• Cook onion in oil 2 minutes.
• Stir in garlic, celery and carrots and cook for 3 minutes.
• Add and brown crumbled sausage.
• Add basil, oregano and red pepper.
• Toss to coat.
• Stir in tomatoes and stock.
• Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
• If necessary, add an additional cup of stock or water and stir in beans and tiny pasta.
• Simmer for 6- 8 minutes or until pasta is tender.
• Stir in parsley and serve hot with grated Parmesan cheese.

LOW-FAT PASTA E FAGIOLI (ITALIAN PASTA & BEAN SOUP)

Steps:

• Combine onion, carrots, celery, fennel, and garlic in a food processor and process until vegetables are finely chopped, about 15 seconds (or finely chop by hand).
• Heat oil in a heavy 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add chopped vegetables and cook, stirring, until they begin to soften, 2-3 minutes, Stir in tomatoes and stock and bring to a boil.
• Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Add beans and pasta and cook, stirring frequently, until pasta is tender but firm (al dente), about 10 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in basil and parsley. Garnish each serving with some cheese, if desired.

PASTA AND BEAN SOUP (PASTA E FAGIOLI)

Steps:

• Combine beans and water in an 8-quart heavy pot and soak, covered, 12 hours.
• Add vegetables and 1 tablespoon rosemary to pot and simmer, covered, until beans are tender, about 2 hours.
• Using a slotted spoon, set aside 1 heaping cup bean mixture, then reserve 2 cups cooking liquid separately.
• Force remaining soup through a food mill into a very large bowl.
• Cook pancetta in cleaned pot over moderate heat, stirring, until it begins to render its fat.
• Add remaining rosemary and cook, stirring, 15 seconds.
• Stir in puréed soup, reserved whole beans, salt, and pepper and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently and scraping bottom with a wooden spatula to keep soup from sticking to pot (thin with some of reserved bean liquid if necessary).
• Add pasta and simmer, stirring frequently, until pasta is cooked, about 12 minutes.
• Serve soup drizzled with olive oil.
• -This soup is best the day after it's made.
• Cool it uncovered, before chilling, covered, up to 4 days.
• -You can use a blender or food processor instead of a food mill to purée the soup, but pulse briefly.
• This soup should be textured and thick.
• Makes 4 quarts, serving 8 to 10.