[www.keralites.net] Pasta e Fagioli

Pasta e Fagioli


Pasta e fagioli, or pasta "fazool". A classic Italian dish of beans and short pasta with tomatoes and vegetables.
Ditalini pasta is commonly used for pasta e fagioli, but you can use any short pasta — or you can break up vermicelli into small bits.
Prep time: 15 minutesCook time: 35 minutes
INGREDIENTS
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
1 large celery stalk, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon chile flakes
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
6 cups chicken or vegetable stock for vegetarian option
5-6 small peeled tomatoes, broken to pieces (about 1 cup)
1/2 pound ditalini pasta
2 15-ounce cans cannellini or borlotti beans, drained and rinsed (or 3 1/2 cups of freshly cooked beans*)
1/4 cup chopped parsley
Salt and black pepper to taste
* To cook the beans from scratch, start with 1 3/4 cups dry beans. Either soak them overnight in water, or cover them with boiling water and let them sit for an hour, then drain. Place the soaked beans in a pot, cover with two inches of water, bring to a simmer, and cook until tender, about an hour.
METHOD
1 Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Saute the onion, carrot and celery for 2-3 minutes, until its soft and translucent. Add the garlic, chile flakes and Italian seasoning and saute another minute.
2 Add the chicken stock and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and keep the soup at a strong simmer.
3 When the pasta is al dente, add the beans and cook another 2-3 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the parsley. Add salt and black pepper to taste.
Yield: Serves 4-6.

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