Mom's Homemade Pasta Fagioli
Pasta e Fagioli aka "Pasta Fazool" is an Italian stew made from pasta and beans. It is a complete meal made in just one pot and is so incredibly delicious.
Servings: 6
Calories: 204kcal
Equipment
- a large pot
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 4 slices bacon diced
- 1 onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes with juice Use one large can or two 14.5 oz cans.
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup ditalini pasta
- 1 14.5 oz can cannellini beans
- 1 parmesan cheese rind optional, but super yummy
Optional
- 1 pound Italian sausage
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. While the oil is heating, dice up the bacon, celery, onions, and garlic.1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- Once the oil is hot, add the diced bacon. Cook until the bacon is about 75% cooked. Then add celery and onions.4 slices bacon, 1 onion, 2 stalks celery
- When the onions are translucent and soft, add all of the spices - salt, pepper, oregano, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes.3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Cook for a few minutes, until garlic is fragrant, then add diced tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring this to a boil.1 28 oz can diced tomatoes with juice, 2 ½ cups chicken broth
- If you are going to add Italian sausage, begin cooking that now in a skillet. Once it is fully cooked, set it off to the side to drain on a towel while you finish cooking your soup.1 pound Italian sausage
- Once the broth is boiling, add the ditalini pasta. Cook the pasta for 10 - 15 minutes, until the pasta is tender. Make sure to stir this pretty regularly throughout the cooking process to ensure that the pasta does not get stuck to the bottom of the pot. If you want to add a little more flavor, you can add the rind of a block of parmesan cheese. (I save the parmesan rinds in the freezer when we finish up a block.)1 cup ditalini pasta, 1 parmesan cheese rind
- Once the pasta is tender, add the cannellini beans (and Italian sausage if you're using it.) Cook for about 5 more minutes, until the beans are nice and soft.1 14.5 oz can cannellini beans, 1 pound Italian sausage
- Remove from heat and serve with grated parmesan cheese on top.
Notes
Storage
Once cooled, store this soup in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. It will last 5 - 7 days. You can freeze it if you like, but I would recommend cooking the pasta separately and adding it when serving. Once you freeze pasta and then reheat it, the texture gets a little funky.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 859mg | Potassium: 237mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg