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Pasta e Fagioli

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Serves 4 to 6
Pasta e fagioli, sometimes shortened to pasta fagioli, is a classic Italian soup made with pasta and beans. My recipe is a comforting, delicious vegetarian dinner! Serve it with crusty bread for sopping up the flavorful broth.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 small fennel bulb or 2 celery ribs, finely chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 3 cups cooked cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • Parmesan rind, optional
  • 1 cup ditalini pasta, or other small pasta
  • 2 large kale or Swiss chard leaves, stemmed and torn (about 6 cups)
  • Pinches of red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, fennel, carrots, salt, and several grinds of pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until very soft.
  • Add the garlic, tomato paste, and rosemary and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and their juices, the beans, broth, and Parmesan rind, if using. Simmer for 20 minutes.
  • Add the pasta and simmer for 10 more minutes, or until al dente. Stir in the kale and red pepper flakes and cook until the kale is wilted. Season to taste and serve.