Pasta e Fagioli (Pasta and Bean Soup)
Pasta Fagioli- or pasta and bean soup- is a great, budget-friendly meal that can handle a lot of ingredients, really whatever you have on hand. Add in some cauliflower florets or cooked squash for extra veggie portions.
Rinse beans, then soak overnight in cold water and drain. Also, soak ham hock overnight in cold water, changing water once (otherwise will be too salty.) Reserve the soaking liquid for extra stock. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot like a 6 qt dutch oven, heat up the butter to sauté your mirepoix veggies (the onions, carrots and celery) and garlic for about 5 minutes over medium heat. Add in the dried spices and 1 tsp salt, and stir to coat the veggies evenly, cook for another minute.
Add in the ham hock, and cover to steam for about 5-7 min. Add in the tomatoes with their juices, the beans, the stock (use enough to cover), the parmesan rind and the bay leaf. Let the whole pot simmer for 2 hours on low, or until the beans are tender. While the soup is simmering time, bring a separate pot of salted water to a boil, and cook then drain the macaroni. This can also be done in your slow cooker-- low for 6 to 8 hours.
Remove the soup pot from the heat, and discard bay leaf and parmesan rind. Remove ham hock to a carving board, pick off and shred the meat and put it back into the pot, discard the bones/gristle/fat. Taste to adjust the seasoning. If you like a thicker soup, remove half of the soup and puree it, then add it back in (or use an immersion blender to blend it partially), and then add in the cooked macaroni and the greens. Stir for a minute or two so the greens wilt, and then serve with parsley, a squeeze of lemon juice and healthy dose of grated parmesan on top.
Ingredients
Directions
Rinse beans, then soak overnight in cold water and drain. Also, soak ham hock overnight in cold water, changing water once (otherwise will be too salty.) Reserve the soaking liquid for extra stock. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot like a 6 qt dutch oven, heat up the butter to sauté your mirepoix veggies (the onions, carrots and celery) and garlic for about 5 minutes over medium heat. Add in the dried spices and 1 tsp salt, and stir to coat the veggies evenly, cook for another minute.
Add in the ham hock, and cover to steam for about 5-7 min. Add in the tomatoes with their juices, the beans, the stock (use enough to cover), the parmesan rind and the bay leaf. Let the whole pot simmer for 2 hours on low, or until the beans are tender. While the soup is simmering time, bring a separate pot of salted water to a boil, and cook then drain the macaroni. This can also be done in your slow cooker-- low for 6 to 8 hours.
Remove the soup pot from the heat, and discard bay leaf and parmesan rind. Remove ham hock to a carving board, pick off and shred the meat and put it back into the pot, discard the bones/gristle/fat. Taste to adjust the seasoning. If you like a thicker soup, remove half of the soup and puree it, then add it back in (or use an immersion blender to blend it partially), and then add in the cooked macaroni and the greens. Stir for a minute or two so the greens wilt, and then serve with parsley, a squeeze of lemon juice and healthy dose of grated parmesan on top.