Authentic Pasta Fazool Recipe (Pasta e Fagioli)

Name: Authentic Pasta Fazool Recipe (Pasta e Fagioli)
Total time: 35 mins
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 12 ounces sweet bulk Italian sausage; 1 stalk celery, diced; 0.5 yellow onion, chopped; 0.75 cup dry elbow macaroni; 0.25 cup tomato paste; 3 cups chicken broth, or more as needed, divided; 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste; 0.25 teaspoon dried oregano; Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste; 3 cups chopped Swiss chard; 1 (15 ounce) can cannellini (white kidney) beans, drained; 0.25 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus additional for serving, or to taste

Pasta fazool is a beloved Italian-American comfort food staple. Feel free to customize this recipe with your preferred sausage, although sweet Italian sausage complements the beans perfectly with its fennel and anise notes. Quick and simple to prepare, this recipe yields two generous servings or four smaller portions, ideal for any occasion.

Total time35 mins
Prep time10 mins
Cook time25 mins
Yield2

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Servings

Instructions

Gather all the necessary ingredients for your pasta fazool.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sweet Italian sausage and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and crumbly, approximately 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, then add the diced celery and chopped onion. Sauté until the onions become translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the dry pasta and cook, stirring frequently, for an additional 2 minutes.
Stir in the tomato paste, ensuring it's evenly distributed throughout the mixture, for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in 3 cups of chicken broth or vegetable broth. Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Stir in the red pepper flakes, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Reduce the heat to medium and allow the soup to simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for approximately 5 minutes. Add more broth if the soup becomes too thick.
Place the chopped Swiss chard in a bowl filled with cold water and rinse the leaves thoroughly to remove any dirt or grit. Transfer the chard to a colander to drain briefly, then add it to the simmering soup. Cook and stir until the chard leaves wilt and become tender, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Stir in the cannellini beans (white beans). Continue to cook and stir until the pasta reaches your desired level of tenderness, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the soup from the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese or Pecorino Romano cheese. Serve hot, topped with additional grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil, if desired.
Enjoy your delicious and comforting pasta fazool!

Nutrition

Calories: 888 kcal
Fat Content: 44 g
Fiber Content: 13 g
Sugar Content: 10 g
Sodium Content: 4200 mg
Protein Content: 44 g
Cholesterol Content: 84 mg
Carbohydrate Content: 77 g
Saturated Fat Content: 14 g
Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g