Monday, January 14, 2013

Pasta Fagioli


I don’t cook a lot of soup but it is always nice to have a bowl or two during winter. This soup was one of the many Italian dishes that I learned from a friend many years ago but I never thought of making it again until my good friend Shereen tasted it at Olive Garden. I told her I know how to make this soup but it might not be exactly the same as the one she tasted but I will try to replica it. So this here is the recipe and hope it is what she is looking for.



Ingredients:

½ pound ground beef
2 stalk celery – cut into tiny cubes
2 carrots – cut into tiny cubes
1 large onion – finely diced
4 cloves garlic 2 bay leaves
¼ cup chopped parsley
1 tsp dried oregano
28 oz can crushed tomato
6 oz can red kidney bean
6 oz can white beans
1 cup small shell pasta
1 cup pasta sauce
6 cups or more beef stock
Salt and pepper to taste


1. In a big pot, heat up 2 tbsp of olive oil. Add in the beef and sauté until it is lightly brown. Add in the onion and garlic. Continue to sauté for a minute and then add in the carrots, celery and crushed tomato. Bring it up to boil and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Drain the beans and add it to the pot with all the rest of the ingredients except parsley. Bring it to boil and continue to simmer until carrots and celery are tender. It will take about 30 minutes.
3. Last add in the chopped parsley. Check seasoning.
4. Serve warm with bread.

Note: This is a thick and hearty soup. You can always add more beef stock to it. If you want to freeze this soup it is best if you don’t add in the pasta as cooked pasta doesn’t freeze well. You can always cook some pasta later on and add it into the soup when you want to serve it.

13 comments:

PH said...

This looks like a delicious and hearty soup!

Shereen said...

The minute I saw the main picture, I know this was the soup we had for dinner that night to celebrate Carlos and J's birthday... and your anniversary ( cheapskate hor, us ... to celebrate 3 occasions at one go.. Lol! ). Yours look nicer, fresher, more colorful and definately more stuff inside. Will make this soonish. Thanks for sharing ;)
PS: Isn't this the soup you made on 'that' historical day?... Lol!!!!

Mat Gebu said...

Fall in love already.....hmmm...

Stephanie said...

Hi Gert,
Happy New Year!
What a hearty and warm up soup! Perfect for the winter.

ann low said...

I love thick soup and this Italian soup looks really good! Wish I can try some :)

suituapui said...

Not a fan of soupy pasta...and tomato-based sauces/gravy either. Watch out for my post on my Italian dinner soon - nope, not the one later today - the lunch in Auckland...another one, in Sibu!

Anonymous said...

Hi Gert, been awhile since I comment. I like this type of hearty soup then the water down kind. I will definitely try this out one day.

Sue

lena said...

hi gert, i never had this kind of pasta soup but reckon it being a comfy one especially on colder nights:)

MaryMoh said...

That would make a good lunch.....mmmm. It looks healthy. Nice colour too. The weather is so cold now that anything with hot soup becomes my instant favourite :D

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

I can make this for my kids during lunch and when my hubby is not taking lunch because he is a strange guy who does not like tomato base soup , hehehe..

Rebekah said...

Oh this is my FAVORITE at Olive Garden - definitely saving. :)

ICook4Fun said...

Phong Hong, thanks.

Shereen, ha ha I wish we can go for something more classy that day. I hope it is the soup you like.

Mat, hope you will try it out.

Stephanie, Happy New Year to you too. Yes this is great for winter.

Ann, I wish I can give you some to try out.

Arthur, this is actually more soup than pasta. Is great for our super cold winter.

Sue, how are you doing?

Lena, hope you try out this hearty soup someday.

Mary, ya we actually have this for dinner with some bread.

Sonia, I knew a few people who does not like tomato base dishes but you can have it with your children :)

Rebekah, yes cheaper to cook it yourself :)

My Little Space said...

Oh my, would love to try this. Sounds so delicious & love the colour too. Slurpppp....
Kristy