Pasta and Bean Soup (Pasta e Fagioli)
There are as many ways of preparing pasta e fagioli (or basta fazool if you come from southern Italy) as there are Italians. In 1940's Brooklyn, all the Italians would have it every Friday night because it is meatless. Usually it is a soup dominated by tomatoes. This recipe, in contrast, is the consistency of a stew, and is dominated by the umami flavor.
Total
03:00
Yield
6
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried white beans
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1 whole clove of garlic, unshelled
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon or more crushed or ground hot red pepper
- Fresh parsley
- ½ pound small diameter macaroni (whole wheat is best)
- Salt to taste
- Total:
- 03:00
- Yield:
- 6
Instructions
-
1Put washed beans in salted water (3 parts to 1 part beans).
-
2Soak overnight OR bring to boil, boil 2 minutes and let stand, covered, for 1 hour.
-
3Do not drain beans, but bring to a boil.
-
4Skim off foam and add oil, garlic and bay leaf.
-
5Simmer for about 2 hours, or until tender.
-
6Cook pasta for 6–7 minutes, but don't let it get too soft.
-
7Drain pasta and save some of the water.
-
8Stir pasta and red pepper into beans and simmer until pasta is al dente, adding some of the saved water if necessary.
-
9Garnish with red pepper to taste and parsley.
- Category
- Soups
- Cuisine
- Italian
Dietary Information
Vegan
Recipe Attribution
Wikibooks Cookbook
Printed from recipe.exchange
https://recipe.exchange/recipes/wb-33066
Printed on October 29, 2026