Pasta Fagioli with Greens

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4.88 from 8 votes

A classic Italian soup, pasta fagioli is a comforting, stick-to-your-ribs dish that’s satisfying and full of flavor.

Prep Time10

Cook Time45

Total Time55

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Servings:

Calories: 285kcal

Author: Dr. Sonali Ruder

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 ½ teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary (or ½ teaspoon dried)
1 bay leaf
1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
2 quarts reduced sodium vegetable or chicken broth
2 cans (15.5 oz) reduced sodium cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 ½ cups ditalini pasta or other small pasta
5 ounces chopped leafy greens like turnip greens, Swiss chard or kale
2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese plus extra for garnish
Salt and pepper to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5–6 minutes. Add the garlic, rosemary, and bay leaf and cook another minute until fragrant. Add the crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth and raise the heat to bring it to a simmer.
Place about a quarter cup of beans in a bowl and add a little bit of the cooking liquid. Mash them together to form a paste and add it to the pot along with the rest of the whole beans. Cover the pot and simmer the soup for 20 minutes. Add the pasta and simmer another 10 minutes, uncovered. Stir in the greens and cook another 5 minutes until wilted. Stir in the cheese.
Taste the soup and season with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with extra grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil. Soup will thicken as it stands.

Notes

To add extra flavor to this soup, add the rind from a block of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. As the soup simmers away, it will be infused with an unbelievable umami kick! Save your Parmigiano-Reggiano rinds and store them in your freezer.

Nutrition