Pasta Fagioli

By zeenieme

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced, about 1 teaspoon
• 1/2 pound Italian sausage
• 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 (14 1/2 to 16 ounce) cans chicken broth (or water)
• 1 *16 ounce) can great northern beans
• 1 cup ditalini or tubette pasta
• 1/2 of a (10 ounce) bag baby spinach or mature spinach with stems removed
• Freshly grated Parmesan, Romano or other sharp grating cheese

Details

Servings 4

Preparation

Step 1

Finely chop onion. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. When the onion is beginning to color, add garlic and cook a minute or so.

If sausage is in casings, slit the casings and crumble the sausage into the pot. Stir and break up the sausage, cooking until it is brown. Add tomatoes, beans, chicken broth and two cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer.

Bring another large pot of water to a boil. Add ditalini and cook according to package directions until done. Drain well. Coarsely chop spinach. Add ditalini and spinach to soup and stir.

Serve in bowls topped with cheese. Serve with slices of French bread.