Are you looking for a flavorful and hearty vegetarian comfort food? Look no further than this classic Italian dish – Pasta Fagioli. Made with simple ingredients like pasta, beans, tomatoes, and aromatic herbs, this dish is easy to make and packed with protein and fiber. Here’s everything you need to know about making the perfect vegetarian Pasta Fagioli.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Hearty yet healthy.
- Rich in plant-based protein sources that will keep you feeling satisfied.
- Can be customized to suit your preferences by using different types of pasta or beans.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
– 1 onion
– 2 cloves garlic
– 2 carrots
– 2 celery stalks
– 1 can diced tomatoes
– 3 cups vegetable broth
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
+ For Seasoning: salt (to taste), black pepper (to taste), oregano (dried), thyme (dried)
+ For Beans choice: red kidney beans or cannellini beans
+ For Pasta choice: elbow macaroni or ditalini
How To Make This recipe
- Begin by preparing all vegetables as instructed on the ingredient list.
- Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large pot or dutch oven. Add onion and garlic until fragrant.
- Add chopped carrot and celery into the pot with onions and garlic sauté for around five minutes until softened somewhat before adding canned tomatoes.
- Add dried herbs & combine everything thoroughly then pour vegetable broth into the pot bring it up boil state reduce heat down to simmer for at least twenty minutes while stirring occasionally.
- Cook pasta according to package instructions; drain noodles well when done cooking toss them in soup mixture along with rinsed/drained chosen type of bean(s).
- Season with salt and pepper (to taste).
Cooking time and temperature guidelines
- Total prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 35 minutes
- Temperature: medium heat
My Pro-tips
- Choose high-quality ingredients for better flavor.
- Use dried herbs when making the dish from scratch.
- You can customize your Pasta Fagioli by using different types of beans or switching up the type of pasta.
Seasoning Options
While this recipe includes a standard list of seasonings, there are other options available to enhance or modify its flavor profile, such as red pepper flakes.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure to rinse and drain canned beans before adding them to the soup mixture.
- If necessary, adjust seasoning levels according to personal preference after everything has simmered together for desired length of time prior serving.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe:
- Cutting board
- Chef’s knife
- Large pot/dutch oven
To Sum Up:
This vegetarian Pasta Fagioli is an easy-to-make classic Italian dish that packs a flavorful punch while being healthy and hearty at the same time. With customizable ingredients, you can quickly make it according to your preferences in terms of texture, protein content or ease of preparation!
FAQs
Q: Can I use a different type of pasta in this recipe?
A: Yes! You can swap out the ditalini pasta for any small pasta shape you have on hand. Small shells, elbows, or mini farfalle would all work well.
Q: Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
A: Yes! This vegetarian pasta fagioli soup is perfect for meal prep and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days or frozen for up to three months. Just be sure to store the soup and cooked pasta separately and combine them when reheating.
Q: How can I adjust the consistency of my soup if it’s too thick or thin?
A: If your soup is too thick, you can add more vegetable broth until it reaches your desired consistency. Alternatively, if it’s too thin, you can let it simmer uncovered until some of the liquid evaporates and it thickens up. You may also choose to add an additional cup of cooked ditalini (or other small) pasta to absorb some of the broth and thicken things up a bit. Remember that as leftovers sit in your refrigerator they will continue to absorb liquid so they may thicken over time – simply reheat with additional vegetable broth as necessary.
