Pasta Fagioli Recipe

Ingredients :

• 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1 cup of Sweet Onion, chopped
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• 2.5 cups Diced Tomatoes in Tomato Juice
• 1.5 cups Cannellini Beans (I used dried but you can use canned)
• 4 cups Chicken or Vegetable Broth/Stock
• 1 cup water or additional broth (if using dried beans)
• 2 tsp. Dried Oregano
• ½ tsp. Dried Basil
• 2 sprigs fresh Thyme
• ¼-½ tsp. Salt
• 1 tsp. Lemon Juice
• 1 cup small shell Pasta (I used Rice Pasta)
• 1 cup Dino Kale, thinly sliced
• ¼ tsp. Red Chili Flakes
• Grated Parmigiano Reggiano (optional)

Directions :

*To do in advance, if using dried beans, soak the beans in filtered water overnight, and drain before using.

In a stainless pot or round dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the chopped onion and let them cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the onion starts to soften. Add the minced garlic and stir with a wooden spoon. Once the garlic is fragrant, add the diced tomatoes and sprigs of thyme and stir. Allow the diced tomatoes to come to a boil and then reduce the heat so the pot is cooking at a simmer. If you are using dried beans, add the beans along with 2-3 cups of the broth and cover for about 30 minutes, then uncover and continue cooking for about 45 minutes, or until the beans are just shy of tender. If you are using canned beans, add the 2-3 cups of broth and cover the pot and allow to simmer for 30 minutes before adding the beans, then drain the beans and allow to cook uncovered for 15 minutes. Remove the thyme sprigs and remove the pot from the heat.

Using an immersion blender or blender, roughly blend about ⅓ of the mixture and add back to the pot – doing this will help thicken the soup. Add the remaining cups of broth, and the herbs, lemon juice, and red chili flakes. Place the pot back on the burner over medium heat and allow the soup to come to a simmer and taste, adding salt as needed. Add the kale and allow it to cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the pasta to the pot and stir, then allow the pasta to cook for 5-6 minutes, or the directed amount on the packaging. I like my soups to be thicker and full of ingredients, but cooking the pasta in the broth tends to thicken the broth (especially rice pasta), so you may want or need to add another cup of water or broth. Stir everything together and add additional herbs or chili flakes, according to taste. Top with cheese if desired and serve with crusty bread.

NOTE :

” Please note that some meals are better to be prepared every once in a while because of some ingredients like meat, cheese, lot of sugar, fats..etc.
Having meals with these ingredients all the time may damage your health. ”