Description
Hearty, comforting, and on the table in 30 minutes—this classic Italian pasta e fagioli combines a tomato-herb broth, tender ditalini, and creamy cannellini beans for a weeknight-friendly soup everyone loves.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Soup Base
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 carrot, diced (medium)
- 1 stalk celery stalk, diced
- 1 slice yellow onion, diced (thin slice)
- 1/2 tsp garlic, finely chopped
Tomato Broth
- 4 8-ounce cans tomato sauce
- 1 14-ounce can chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tbsp dried basil leaves
- freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Pasta & Beans
- 1 1/2 cups ditalini pasta
- 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans (drained and rinsed)
Instructions
- Sauté the Soffritto: In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced carrot, celery, and onion. Cook and stir until soft and fragrant, about 5–7 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and sauté for 1 minute more, until aromatic.
- Simmer the Tomato Broth: Stir in the tomato sauce, chicken broth, dried parsley, dried basil, and a pinch of black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 20 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Cook the Pasta: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the ditalini and cook for about 8 minutes, until al dente. Drain well.
- Combine and Finish: Add the drained cannellini beans and cooked ditalini to the simmering soup. Stir and simmer 1–2 minutes more, until heated through.
- Serve: Ladle into bowls and enjoy immediately. Optional: garnish with extra-virgin olive oil, grated Parmesan, or chopped parsley.
Notes
For best texture, cook pasta separately and add just before serving. To store, keep pasta and soup in separate containers to avoid over-absorbing broth. Swap chicken broth with vegetable broth to make it vegetarian.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Calories: 350
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 65
- Fiber: 10
- Protein: 14
