Pasta e Fagioli

Serves 1
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Directions

  1. 1Add olive oil to a pot, then brown the ground beef, seasoning it with salt and pepper.
  2. 2Remove the cooked ground beef from the pot.
  3. 3Add diced onions, carrots, and celery to the same pot, seasoning with salt and pepper, and sauté until softened.
  4. 4Add minced garlic, dried oregano, dried thyme, and Calabrian chilies or red pepper flakes, then cook for a couple of minutes until fragrant.
  5. 5Stir in tomato paste and let it caramelize, cooking it until it turns a darker color.
  6. 6Deglaze the pot with white wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
  7. 7Pour in beef broth and marinara or crushed tomatoes.
  8. 8Add the cooked ground beef back into the soup.
  9. 9Add a Parmesan rind, a bay leaf, and a sprig of fresh rosemary to the soup for flavor.
  10. 10Cover the pot and simmer the soup.
  11. 11After simmering, remove the lid and stir in cannellini beans (some mashed for creaminess) and ditalini or tubetti pasta.
  12. 12Add chopped kale or escarole to the soup and cook until wilted.
  13. 13Squeeze in the juice from half a lemon and stir.
  14. 14Serve hot, garnished with fresh Parmesan cheese and a side of crusty bread.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 2 medium carrots, finely diced
  • 3 celery stalks, finely diced
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 0.5 tablespoon Calabrian chilies or red pepper flakes
  • Salt
  • freshly cracked black pepper
  • 3 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 0.5 cup dry white wine
  • 6 cups beef broth
  • 24 ounces marinara or crushed tomatoes
  • 2 cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 Parmesan rind
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
  • 1 cup ditalini or tubetti pasta
  • 1 bunch kale or escarole, chopped, stems removed
  • 0.5 lemon juice
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Crusty bread
  • Fresh basil

Equipment

potwooden spoonladle

Tips

  • The authentic version of this soup relies on simplicity, a bowl of pure comfort that can stretch to feed a family.
  • This recipe adds ground beef for extra protein, but it can be kept as simple or elevated as you like.
  • Mash half of one can of cannellini beans for creaminess.
  • Serve with some crusty bread.