Indulge in the rustic charm of Pasta e Fagioli, an old-world Italian soup that embodies comfort and simplicity. This hearty dish, meaning "pasta and beans" in Italian, originates from the humble kitchens of central and southern Italy, where simple ingredients were transformed into culinary masterpieces. Join us on a culinary journey as we explore the traditional recipe, along with three enticing variations that add a modern twist to this classic. From a classic preparation using dried beans to a speedy variation with canned beans, a vegetarian version bursting with fresh vegetables, and a rich and flavorful sausage-enhanced soup, there's a Pasta e Fagioli recipe for every taste and occasion. So gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and let's embark on a delectable journey into the world of Pasta e Fagioli.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
PASTA E FAGIOLI
Teeming with vegetables, legumes, and pasta, this hearty pasta e fagioli soup is perfect for chilly nights.
Provided by Jennifer Segal, adapted from Chef Joe Cicala's recipe in the
Categories Soups
Time 45m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the pancetta and cook until the fat begins to render, about 5 minutes. Add the onion, carrot and celery and increase the heat to medium; cook, stirring frequently, until the onions become translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more, stirring constantly so the garlic doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan and burn.
- Add the wine and cook until it has nearly evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the broth, salt, pepper, beans, lentils, diced tomatoes, bay leaves and rosemary. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the lentils are just tender, 15-30 minutes, depending on the type of lentils you used.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer 1 cup of the bean mixture and a little liquid to a blender. Remove the center knob so steam can escape. Hold a paper towel or kitchen towel over the opening to prevent splatters. Purée until smooth and set aside.
- Add the dried pasta to the pot and stir to incorporate. Turn the heat up to a gentle boil and cook until the pasta is tender but still firm to the bite, anywhere from 8-12 minutes depending on the type of pasta you used. The soup will thicken a bit by the time the pasta is cooked. Fish out and discard the bay leaves.
- Stir the reserved puréed bean mixture into the soup. (If you're having a hard time getting the mixture out of the blender, remove as much as you can with a rubber spatula, then add some of the hot soup broth to it and swirl around to loosen it up; it should come right out.) Cook briefly, until the soup is heated through.
- Remove the soup from heat and stir in the Parmigiano-Reggiano. If the soup seems too thick, gradually add 1-2 cups of water or more chicken broth and thin to desired consistency (note: the longer it sits on the stove, the thicker it will get). Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls. Drizzle each portion with a touch of extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with more cheese, if desired.
- Note: This soup is best served immediately; as it sits, the pasta and beans soak up the broth. If the soup gets too thick, you can thin it with a bit of broth or water.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The soup can be frozen, without the pasta, for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until simmering, add the pasta, and cook until the pasta is tender. (The beans may have soaked up some of the broth while frozen, so add more broth to thin out the soup, if desired.)
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize About 2 cups, Calories 691, Fat 25g, Carbohydrate 81g, Protein 36g, SaturatedFat 8g, Sugar 7g, Fiber 17g, Sodium 1214mg, Cholesterol 26mg
PASTA E FAGIOLI (ITALIAN PASTA AND BEANS)
Pasta e fagioli means "pasta and beans" in Italian-this recipe is much more than that! This hearty vegetarian stew is full of irresistible fresh flavor. It's vegan, too, as long as you don't top it with cheese. Recipe yields 6 bowls or 8 cups of soup.
Provided by Cookie and Kate
Categories Stew
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 19
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.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 bowl, Calories 319 calories, Sugar 7.4 g, Sodium 1376.1 mg, Fat 10.3 g, SaturatedFat 1.5 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 47.2 g, Fiber 9.7 g, Protein 12.8 g, Cholesterol 0 mg
PASTA E FAGIOLI: THE AUTHENTIC RECIPE
Time 45m
Yield Serves 4-6
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- If pre-boiling the beans, pre-soak them overnight in abundant water. Simmer them the next day until tender, about an hour or so depending on how old your beans are, seasoning with salt towards the end of cooking. (If you like, you can add a garlic clove and a sprig of parsley.)
- Fry the pancetta, cut up into cubes or lardons, in olive oil until just beginning to brown, then add the garlic cloves and rosemary. (You can also add a peperoncino at this point if you like some spice.)
- Just when you start to smell the garlic and rosemary, add the canned tomatoes, which you should crush in your hands as you add them to the pot. (I just add one or two plus a little juice, just enough to lightly color the soup and add a little flavor) and simmer until the tomatoes have separated from the oil.
- Then add your cannellini beans, allow them to simmer for a minute or two to insaporire (absorb the flavors of the tomato and other ingredients) and then add water (or broth) and partially cooked pasta (see below).
- Continue simmering, squashing some of the beans against the side of the pot so that they 'melt' into the liquid and thicken it, until the pasta is fully cooked.
- I like to mix in a bit of grated pecorino cheese to enrich the soup before serving. Serve topped with you choice of additional grated cheese, freshly ground pepper and/or un filo d'olio.
PASTA E FAGIOLI
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Time 50m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Wrap the thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf in a piece of cheesecloth and secure closed with kitchen twine. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, pancetta, and garlic and saute until the onion is tender, about 3 minutes. Add the broth, beans, and sachet of herbs. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then decrease the heat to medium and simmer until the vegetables are very tender, about 10 minutes. Discard the sachet. Puree 1 cup of the bean mixture in a blender until smooth*. Before putting the puree back into the soup, add the macaroni and boil with the lid on until it is tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Return the puree to the remaining soup in the saucepan and stir well. Season the soup with ground black pepper and red pepper flakes.
- Ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle with some Parmesan and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil just before serving.
- *When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.
PASTA E FAGIOLI
This traditional favorite is ready in only 45 minutes with lots of homemade taste from fresh vegetables, pasta and white kidney beans.
Provided by Campbell's Kitchen
Categories Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips Swanson®
Time 45m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Cook the celery, carrots, onion and garlic until they're tender.
- Stir the broth, Italian seasoning and tomatoes in the skillet. Heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
- Add the pasta and beans and cook for 5 minutes.
- Place half of the broth mixture into a blender or food processor. Cover and blend until smooth. Pour the pureed mixture into the skillet. Cook over medium heat until the mixture is hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 240.9 calories, Carbohydrate 41.6 g, Cholesterol 2.5 mg, Fat 4.7 g, Fiber 7.5 g, Protein 8.9 g, SaturatedFat 0.6 g, Sodium 883 mg, Sugar 6.4 g
PASTA E FAGIOLI
Steps:
- In a large heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Stir in onion and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in garlic, celery, and carrots and cook for 3 minutes. Add dried basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes and toss to coat. 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 ground black pepper.
PASTA FAGIOLI
A traditional Italian soup. Serve with a crisp salad and a hot loaf of garlic bread and you have a meal! Serve with grated Parmesan cheese on top.
Provided by Star Pooley
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes
Time 50m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook celery, onion, garlic, parsley, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and salt in the hot oil until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in chicken broth, tomatoes and tomato sauce, and simmer on low for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Add pasta and cook 10 minutes, until pasta is tender.
- Add undrained beans and mix well. Heat through. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 224.6 calories, Carbohydrate 37.3 g, Cholesterol 2.3 mg, Fat 4.4 g, Fiber 7.9 g, Protein 11 g, SaturatedFat 0.6 g, Sodium 757.8 mg, Sugar 6.4 g
PASTA E FAGIOLI
Provided by Jeff Gordinier
Categories dinner, pastas, main course
Time 1h40m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Cover the beans with water, and add the baking soda, half the celery stalk and the bay leaf. Soak them for 24 hours.
- Drain and rinse well. Place in a pot and add cold water to two inches above the beans. Add the rest of the celery, the onion, tomatoes, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the beans are tender, about 1 hour 20 minutes.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, drain the beans, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Discard the celery, onion, and bay leaf. In a soup pot over low heat, sauté the garlic in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil for 1 minute, add 2 tablespoons parsley, and continue to sauté until garlic is light brown, 1 or 2 more minutes. Add the beans and 1/2 cup of their cooking liquid, mashing a few beans with a fork to give the soup body. Bring to a simmer.
- When the water has reached a boil, add the pasta and cook for half the time called for on the package. Drain the pasta and add it to the beans, reserving the cooking water. Raise the heat under the soup pot to medium and cook until the pasta is al dente, adding enough reserved pasta water or bean cooking liquid to make a thick broth.
- Ladle into bowls, garnish with parsley and pepper, and drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Serve immediately or the pasta will absorb the broth.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 516, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 82 grams, Fat 12 grams, Fiber 12 grams, Protein 22 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 567 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams
Tips:
- Use a variety of beans to create a more flavorful and interesting dish. Cannellini, navy, or Great Northern beans are all good choices.
- Don't be afraid to use different types of pasta. Small pasta shapes like ditalini or elbow macaroni are traditional, but you can also use larger shapes like penne or rotini.
- Add vegetables to the soup to make it more nutritious. Chopped carrots, celery, and onion are all good choices.
- If you don't have any pancetta, you can use bacon or salt pork instead.
- Use a hearty bread to serve with the soup. A crusty Italian bread or a sourdough bread would be a good choice.
Conclusion:
Pasta e fagioli is a classic Italian soup that is hearty, flavorful, and easy to make. It's a great way to use up leftover beans and pasta, and it's also a great meal to serve on a cold night. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a delicious and satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy.
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