Pasta Fagioli Bean Soup With Smoked Ham Food

PASTA FAGIOLI (BEAN) SOUP WITH SMOKED HAM

Steps:

• In a large stock pot, saute' onions,carrots and pepper in olive oil until tender. Add garlic,basil,oregano and ham Cook for 2 minutes. Add diced tomatoes, crushing them until they have a thick consistency.
• Add chicken stock and kidney beans, bring to a boil and stir in Rotini, boil until pasta is done. Scoop off excess fat.
• Remove from heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add mushrooms, Cover and set aside for about 5 minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese and scallions before serving.

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.

ITALIAN BEAN SOUP WITH PASTA

Steps:

• Place beans in a bowl; add 2 cups of the water, let stand overnight (or, bring to boiling in a medium saucepan, boil briskly 2 minutes., remove from heat, let stand, covered, 1 hour).
• In a 5-6-quart kettle heat oil. Cook carrot, celery, and onion until onion is soft. Mix in garlic, parsley, and pepperoni. Add ham hock, tomatoes, (coarsely chopped, with liquid), basil, bay leaf, beans and liquid and remaining cups water.
• Bring to boiling. Cover, reduce heat. Simmer until beans are tender and ham separates from bone, about 2 hours. Remove ham hock; discard bones, fat, skin and bay leaf. Return ham in chunks. Skim, discard fat.
• Remove 1 cup of the beans. Press through food mill (or puree in blender with a little soup liquid). To soup add pasta shells. Bring to boiling. Cook, uncovered, stirring, until pasta is tender, 12-15 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt.

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 FAGIOLI SOUP WITH SMOKED SAUSAGE

Steps:

• In a large pot lightly brown the sausage slices on both sides then remove to a bowl.
• In the same pot heat the oil over medium heat; add in onion and saute for about 5-6 minutes or until softened.
• Add in the garlic, pepper flakes, basil and oregano; cook stirring for 2 minutes.
• Add the sausage back to the pot along with the broth, bouillon powder, diced tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce, both cans of beans, Parmesan cheese and 1-2 teaspoons ground black pepper; stir with a wooden spoon and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer covered for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
• Season with seasoned salt or white salt.
• Meanwhile in another pot cook the small shell pasta until al dente; drain then add to the soup before serving.
• Serve with more Parmesan cheese on the side.

PASTA E FAGIOLI WITH HAM, MUSHROOMS AND HERBS

Steps:

• Heat 2 T. oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, carrots and bell pepper. Cook until beginning to soften, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add ham, 3 T. fresh basil, garlic and oregano. Stir 2 minutes. Add tomatoes. Cook until mixture is reduced to thick sauce, about 6 minutes. Add broth and beans. Bring to boil, mashing 1/4 of beans against sides of pot. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes.
• Bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Add pasta. Boil gently until pasta is almost tender but firm to bite, 6-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle mushrooms over soup. Remove from heat, cover and let stand 5 minutes. Return soup to boil, stirring constantly. Adjust seasoning. Stir in 5 T. fresh basil. Ladle soup into bowls. Top with green onion tops and drizzle with oil. Pass Parmesan and freshly ground pepper separately.