New Recipe #2 — Oct 2008

As per my 100 Things list, I am tackling #41 – Try a new recipe every month for a year. Last month’s recipe can be found here: Butter Bean Burgers

I was trolling around AllRecipes.com yesterday, looking for a recipe to try for October, when a very cool breeze wafted in through the open door. It occurred to me that it was definitely getting to be ’soup weather’ so I searched for vegetarian soups and found this recipe for Pasta e Fagioli. Since this is one of my favorites, I knew I had to try it. I used the recipe I found as inspiration, made a few minor changes and produced the best homemade soup I have eaten in a long time. I also chose to use the slow cooker, which made it really easy to just let it simmer for hours.

Pasta e Fagioli

INGREDIENTS
* 3 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 onion, quartered then halved (I used a yellow onion)
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
* 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
* 2 (14 ounce) cans vegetable broth
* 1 tablespoon dried parsley
* 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
* 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained but not rinsed
* 1 (15 ounce) can dark red kidney beans, drained but not rinsed
* 1/2 pound ditalini pasta
* 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

Add the olive oil, onion, and garlic to a slow cooker set on High, while assembling the next nine ingredients. Stir in the tomato sauce, tomatoes, vegetable broth, parsley, basil, oregano, salt, and beans. Leave slow cooker on High for 30 minutes, then turn to Low. Simmer 2-6 hours (the longer the better; the flavor just deepens).

One hour before desired serving time, add the uncooked pasta. Continue simmering until the pasta is done. Stir in the Parmesan and serve.

NEXT TIME

This was delicious! I don’t think I would change anything in regards to the flavor. However, I would probably chop the onion a little smaller and add only 1/4 – 1/3 lb. of the pasta. That would keep it more liquidy like a soup, rather than a thicker stew consistency. As it is, I will probably have to add a couple of cups of water or broth tomorrow when I reheat it.

SIDES

I had a simple green salad while waiting for the pasta to cook and then served slices of Italian bread for dipping.

HIGH: The smell of simmering soup in the house all afternoon.