Pasta e fagioli aka pasta and beans. One of our faves at the moment. And you don’t have to add pasta, it’s just as good as bean soup. I’ve tried both borlotti beans and cannellini beans and they are both good, but I prefer the latter.
Pep time 10 min + the soaking time Cook time 1,5 – 2 hrs
INGREDIENTS FOR 8
- 500g dried beans soaked overnight *
- 400g fatty pancetta finely chopped
- 200-300g fresh pig skins
- 1 onion
- 1 carrot
- 1 celery stalk
- 1 garlic clove
- can of peeled/diced tomatos
- 1 potato
- peperoncino (chili pepper)
- salt, pepper
- extra virgin olive oil
- grated Parmesan
- fresh maltagliati pasta or any kind of short pasta
1. Flame the pork skins to remove bristles, rub them clean with a cloth, and cut them into strips. Or if you use the skin from pancetta, just cut that into strips. No need to clean.
3. Mince the onion, celery and carrot and combine them. Heat a bit of oil in a large pot and sauté the chopped pancetta until it begins to brown. Add the minced onion mixture, a crushed garlic clove and the spices and continue to sauté, stirring, for about 10 minutes.
4. Add the tomatoes, the drained beans, the peeled potato, the skins and water to cover abundantly, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let simmer until the beans are tender. Total cooking time about 1,5 – 2 hrs. Stir occasionally to keep from sticking.
5. After an hour, add 1 cup or more of water and salt.
6. When done, take an abundant cup of the soup with the potato (if it’s still in one piece or in chunks) and use a blender to cream it. Add it back to the soup.
7. Cook the pasta directly in the soup checking the water and salt. You can use the amount of soup for your need and refrigerate or freeze the rest.
8. Add a little bit of olive oil and grated parmesan to the plate
FOR THE VEGETARIAN ALTERNATIVE: leave out the pork skins and pancetta
FOR THE GLUTEN FREE ALTERNATIVE: use as soup or use appropriate pasta
Tip: If you want to serve it as soup, add croutons or pieces of grilled bread.
*the soaking time depends on the quality of your beans. Sometimes 8 hrs is enough, sometimes even less.
BUON APPETITO!