Pasta e Fagioli Soup

 

I really feel like the only good thing about winter is the delicious warm soups and delicious hot chocolates. Other than that, there is nothing about winter that I like. This soup is one of those delicious comforting soups that just warms me up on a cold day. 

As this soup sits out off the heat it will thicken up and it will thicken up even more in the refrigerator. To thin it out and make it a soup again, add a bit more broth before reheating. Or you could be like my oldest and eat it thick like a pasta dish.

Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 ounces turkey bacon, diced
• 5 cloves garlic minced
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 3-15.5 ounce cans cannellini beans, drained, not rinsed
• 6-8 cups vegetable broth
• black pepper, to taste
• 1 can plum tomatoes, you will only need 3 from the can
• 2 cups ditalini pasta
• shredded parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add in the bacon and cook until crispy and remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
2. Add in the onions and sauté for 5 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add in the red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds.
3. Pour in 6 cups of broth and season with black pepper. Crush each of the 3 tomatoes in your hand over the pot and add to the pot. Add in the drained beans. Turn the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil and boil for 5 minutes.
4. Lower the heat to medium and either smash some of the beans against the side of the pot with a spoon or for a creamier consistency use an immersion blender to blend some of the soup. Do not blend too much you want some of the beans whole.
5. Add in the pasta and cook until al dente, stirring occasionally. If the pasta absorbs too much of the broth add in some more as needed.
6. Sprinkle each serving with some parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!!!

Notes:

The original calls for pancetta, you could use that or your favorite bacon.

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 416
Total Fat		7.3g
Saturated Fat		3.2g
Trans Fat		0g
Polyunsaturated Fat		0.0g
Monounsaturated Fat		0.0g
Cholesterol		20mg
Sodium		1561.6mg
Total Carbohydrates		70.2g
Dietary Fiber		13g
Sugars		4.5g
Protein		23.5g
Calcium		12.6%
Iron		21.2%
Potassium		162.1mg
Vitamin A		12.3%
Vitamin C		12.3%
*Nutritional information will vary depending on the brands you use.

*Adapted from Sip and Feast.