Pasta e Fagioli is an appetizer I love to order at an Italian restaurant like Machiavelli's on Center Street. It's a wonderful start to a hearty, flavorful meal.
I love making soup at home and recently felt like trying this restaurant-quality favorite in my own kitchen.
I went searching for a great recipe and came across Meg Kat 's version that stood out from the rest.
Traditionally, Pasta e Fagioli is made with beans, small pasta, and stewed tomatoes, but Megan's recipe added a great element of flavor with the addition of bacon and a modernized appeal with a fun spiral noodle.
While I added fresh spinach and additional spices, this recipe needed little adjusting. It is a a great twist to the original, while maintaining its authenticity. It is full of wonderful flavors, extremely easy to make, and convenient, requiring mostly pantry ingredients. It's a must-try recipe - I hope you enjoy it!
Pasta Fagioli
Adapted From Meg Kat
Makes: 10 cups
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 40-50 minutes
Ingredients
8 slices of bacon, diced
1 small onion, finely diced
2 large or 4 small garlic cloves, minced
6 cups chicken broth
3 cups water
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
2 14-ounce cans cannellini beans
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups fresh spinach
1 cup rotini pasta
Directions
Start with finely chopping your onion, mincing your garlic, and dicing your bacon. In a large soup pot, cook your bacon over medium/high heat until crisp. Then add your onions and garlic and saute until your onions appear translucent, about 5 minutes.
Add your chicken broth, water, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, cannellini beans, dried parsley, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper to the pot. Bring your soup to a boil, then lower the heat to continue to cook at a simmer for 30-40 minutes.
Once your soup is finished simmering, add your pasta and fresh spinach. Allow your soup to cook for an additional 10 minutes until the pasta is cooked through. Then serve and enjoy!
