Olive Garden's Pasta Fagioli

By smleonard

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
• 1 large carrot, julienned (1 cup)
• 3 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 ounce) can red kidney beans (with liquid)
• 1 (15 ounce) can great northern beans (with liquid)
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (1 1 1/2 ounce) can V-8 juice
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 lb ditali pasta

Preparation

Step 1

1. Brown the ground beef in large saucepan or pot over medium heat.
2. Drain off most of the fat.
3. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic and sauté for 10 minutes Add remaining ingredients, except pasta, and simmer for 1 hour About 50 minutes in to simmer, cook the pasta in 1 1/2 to 2 quarts of boiling water over high heat.
4. Cook for 10 minutes until pasta is al dente, or slightly tough.
5. Drain Add the pasta to the large pot of soup.
6. Simmer for 5-10 minutes and serve.