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Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Pasta e fagioli soup is a rich and comforting authentic Italian soup made with cannellini beans, tomato, and small pasta. Best served topped with cheese!
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 15- oz cans cannellini beans
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion diced
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • 2 carrots diced
  • 4 oz pancetta diced
  • 2 sprigs rosemary finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves chopped
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4 cups of beef broth
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups crushed tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 cups small pasta like shells, macaroni, etc, uncooked
  • Grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan for serving
  • Red pepper flakes optional, for serving

Instructions

  • In a large soup pot, heat olive oil. Add onion, celery, carrots and pancetta and sauté until the vegetables have softened and the onions are translucent - about 5 minutes
  • Add the garlic and rosemary, and sauté 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally. 
  • Remove from heat and add TWO of the cans of cannellini beans, liquids included.
  • If you have a hand-held immersion blender, use it to puree the mixture until smooth. If you do not have an immersion blender, transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Then transfer the pureed mixture back into the soup pot. 
  • Drain the remaining can of cannellini beans.
  • Return the pot to the stove. Add the drained cannellini beans, beef broth, chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, salt, and bay leaves.
  • Cover the pot and bring to a boil.
  • Remove the cover and add the pasta.
  • Cook over medium heat until the pasta is cooked al dente (according to box instructions). The soup will thicken, as a result of the starch from the pasta. You want it to be thick (like a bisque would be), but if it gets too thick, add some more chicken broth. 
  • Remove the bay leaves.
  • Serve and top with grated cheese and/or some red pepper flakes.

Notes

Note: This soup will continue to thicken as it sits. So if you have leftovers, top if off with a dash of chicken broth before reheating. It will be the perfect consistency!