This standout, one-pot pasta and white bean soup is different than most recipes. It’s made with fresh cherry tomatoes (instead of canned) which lightens the thick and hearty broth. Serves 4-6.
Pasta e fagioli or “pasta and beans” in Italian is one of my favorite, humble, peasant-style recipes from the cucina povera.
There are two distinct type of pasta e fagioli: red and white.
I’ve tested a both versions and the white-ish pasta e fagioli is the winner for me! It’s lighter and more delicate, yet comforting at the same time.
My recipe leans on fresh cherry tomatoes (instead of canned), buttery home-cooked white beans, Italian-style vegetable stock, and ditalini pasta which cooks directly in the pot – its natural starches thicken the broth.
You’ll get about 2 quarts, enough for 4-6 people, and is ready in under 1 hour. Serve with this crusty sourdough bread recipe on the side.
How To Make It {Step-By-Step Recipe}
Step 1: Sauté The Vegetables
To start, sauté the onions and celery in olive oil until soft. Then add the garlic.
Next, add the halved cherry tomatoes and cook until they collapse and release their juice into the pot.
Step 2: Add The Beans
Add the cooked white beans (or canned beans + 1 bay leaf), with 1 cup of vegetable stock. Bring to a gentle boil.
Step 3: Add The Pasta
Add the ditalini pasta, with 2 cups of stock. Reduce the heat to low. Cook, stirring often (so the pasta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot because it will) until just shy of aldente. Add more stock as needed.
When finished, the pasta should have a bite to it; it will continue to cook as the soup stands off the heat.
To Serve
Season well with salt and pepper, and stir in the fresh parsley. Portion into bowls and top with Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
PS: Pasta e fagioi is not vegetable soup. That’s minestrone soup, which is delicious but different!
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One-Pot Pasta E Fagioli: Pasta & White Bean Soup
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 40
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 2 quarts 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stove-top
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This standout, Italian pasta e fagioli recipe is different than most. It’s made with fresh cherry tomatoes (instead of canned) to lighten the thick and hearty broth. Dried ditalini or fresh homemade pasta (scraps) cook directly in the pot; its natural starches thicken the soup. This soup thickens more on standing, so I recommend serving it right away. Or, have extra stock on hand to loosen up the texture when re-heating future meals. Recipe adapted from one of my favorite books: Cucina Povera by, Giulia Scarpaleggia.
Note: this recipe is made better using my simple homemade vegetable stock and my buttery, home-cooked beans from scratch. The layers of flavor are absolutely incredible!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 small celery stalked, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, smashed
- 360 g (12 oz) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 500 g (2 cups) cooked white beans or 1x (15 oz) can of Great Northern or Cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 4 cups homemade veggie stock, divided, plus more as needed
- Fresh bay leaf
- 75 g ditalini pasta
- 1 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
- Parmesan cheese & sourdough bread, to serve
Instructions
- In a large pot (Dutch oven or 5-quart braiser pot), warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and celery; sauté until soft, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the smashed garlic cloves. Cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the halved cherry tomatoes. Continue to cook for about 10 minutes, or until the tomatoes collapse, soften and their release their juices.
- Add the cooked white beans (or canned beans & 1 fresh bay leaf) with 1 cup of vegetable stock. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Add the pasta with 2 cups of stock. Reduce the heat to low. Cook, stirring often (so the pasta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot because it will), until just shy of aldente, about 11 minutes. Add more stock as needed. When finished, the pasta should have a bite to it; it will continue to cook as the soup stands off the heat.
- Stir in the fresh parsley.
- Taste, and season with salt and pepper. If you want the soup more brothy, now is the time to add more stock. The soup will thicken more upon standing.
- Serve in wide shallow bowls with Parmesan cheese, sourdough bread, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Comments
Lia says
Hi would make lots of fabulous food in those pans but as im not an US resident, im not entering the competition lol!!
Fabulous pasta and fagioli though!!!
Lia xxx
Taryn Isaacs says
I would make the best fried chicken ever!!
Kaylin@EnticingHealthyEating says
I would make all kinds of dishes with that beautiful cookware! Skillet lasagna, split pea soup, breakfast for dinner, you name it.
Lisa Brown says
I would make chili with the cookware set.. Thanks for the chance :)
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com