Pasta And Beans: Pasta E Fagioli

By á-174942

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (2 turns around the pan)
• 1/8 pound pancetta - (abt 3 slices) chopped
• 2 sprigs rosemary - (4" to 6" long) left intact
• 1 sprig thyme (4" to 6" long) with
• several sprigs on it left intact
• 1 large fresh bay leaf (or 2 dried bay leaves)
• 1 medium onion finely chopped
• 1 small carrot finely chopped
• 1 celery rib finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves chopped
• Coarse salt to taste
• Freshly-ground black pepper to taste
• 2 cans cannellini beans - (15 oz ea)
• 1 cup canned tomato sauce or canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 cups water
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 1 1/2 cups ditalini
• Grated Parmigiano or Romano for the table
• Crusty bread for mopping

Details

Servings 6

Preparation

Step 1

Heat a deep pot over medium-high heat and add oil and pancetta. Brown the pancetta bits lightly, and add herb stems, bay leaf, chopped vegetables, and garlic. Season vegetables with salt and pepper.

Add beans, tomato sauce, water, and stock to pot and raise heat to high. Bring soup to a rapid boil and add pasta. Reduce heat to medium and cook soup, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes or until pasta is cooked al dente.

Rosemary and thyme leaves will separate from stems as soup cooks. Remove herb stems and bay leaf from soup and place pot on table on a trivet. Let soup rest and begin to cool for a few minutes.

Ladle soup into bowls and top with lots of grated cheese. Pass crusty bread for bowl mopping.

This recipe yields 6 BIG servings, leftovers improve.