Pasta e Fagioli is a traditional Italian soup with a savory tomato broth, that translates to pasta and beans. With Nonna's tips, this recipe is full of flavour and screams comfort food
1can Fagioli beans / Borlotti beans (or you can use Cannellini beans or your preferred beans)
1onion
2medium carrots
2medium celery sticks
2bay leaves
4garlic cloves
3tablespoontomato paste
1potato
3cups vegetable broth or stock
2-3cupswater
1teaspoonground nutmeg
1tablespoonolive oil
1Parmesan cheese rind cube (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish
Fresh herbs such as finely chopped parsley or basil leaves
Freshly grated parmesan cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
Dice the onion, carrots and celery into tiny cubes to make a soffritto. Saute them in olive oil in a pot over medium heat with the bay leaves and a pinch of salt
After a few minutes when the veggies are tender, add the garlic and stir together. Then add 3 tablespoons of concentrated tomato paste and saute for 3-5 minutes to fry the sauce down. If required, add a dash of olive oil to help it saute
Pour in the vegetable stock and water, season with salt and pepper. Chop the potato into small cubes and add to the pot along with the nutmeg, a cube of parmesan rind (optional) and simmer with the lid on for 10-15 mintues on medium heat
When the vegetables are cooked, remove a cup of the broth from the pot and leave it on the side to cool down
Add the pasta a pinch of salt and cook with the lid on (note you can add an extra cup of water at this time if the sauce has reduced too much or liquid is too thick)
While the pasta is cooking, drain the can of beans and add a quarter of the beans to the reserved broth on the side. Blend it in a blender to create a creamy sauce
When the pasta is half way cooked, add the beans and the creamy sauce to the pot and allow it to cook together for a few minutes.Remove the bay leaves and parmesan rind. Serve your Pasta e Fagioli soup with a sprinkle of chopped parsley and freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese