Pasta E Fagioli

Pasta E Fagioli, or Pasta with Beans, is a classic Italian soup made with three different beans, pasta, and an abundance of Italian spices. Perfect for a casual weeknight supper or a dinner with friends, this is a hearty soup that just begs for some warm bread to sop up all the juices.

This soup is my way of welcoming the cooler fall weather; that is, assuming you live somewhere cooler than the oven that is currently Phoenix, AZ. Here in the desert, we’ll be enjoying our soups with the a/c on high for at least another month.

This Pasta E Fagioli is a recipe from my friend Liz’s new eCookbook: Food From Our Ancestors: The Ultimate Italian Sunday Dinner. The cookbook is filled with Liz’s family’s favorite Italian recipes and each one makes me want to pull up a chair and dive in. The Shrimp Scampi is next on my list and I can hardly wait!

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Pasta E Fagioli

Recipe gently adapted from and with thanks to The Ultimate Italian Sunday Dinner

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 small onion chopped small
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 6- ounce can tomato paste
• 6 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock for a vegetarian option
• 1 15- ounce can light red kidney beans drained
• 1 15- ounce can chickpeas or garbanzo beans drained
• 1 15- ounce can white beans or great northern beans drained
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• kosher salt only as needed, adjust to taste
• 1/2 pound ditalini or elbow pasta cooked according to package
• 1-2 ounces fresh Parmesan or Pecorino Romano shaved or grated
• optional: bread for serving

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, and spices. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir well. Reduce the heat to low and cook 2 more minutes. Add the chicken stock and beans to the pot. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer 20 minutes.
2. While the soup is simmering, cook the pasta, drain and rinse to cool. Stir the cooked pasta into the soup just before serving. Top with cheese and serve with bread, if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

Tips for a heartier meat-lovers meal: This soup will also be great with a pound or so of chopped roast chicken, ground beef, or Italian sausage. My kids and husband are more inclined towards stews and chowders than soups, so my only adjustment to this recipe was reducing the liquid. 

If you’re looking for some great family dinner inspiration and you love Italian food, Food From Our Ancestors: The Ultimate Italian Sunday Dinner is exactly what you need. Buon Appetito!