Description
Pasta Fagioli, also known as Pasta Fazool, is a hearty Italian-style soup made with tender pasta, creamy beans, vegetables, tomatoes, and herbs. This comforting and budget-friendly recipe is perfect for cozy lunches, dinners, or meal prep.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 can diced tomatoes, 14.5 ounces
- 2 cans cannellini beans, 15 ounces each, drained and rinsed
- 5 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup ditalini pasta
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Grated Parmesan-style cheese for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat.
- Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until softened.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the diced tomatoes, cannellini beans, vegetable broth, oregano, basil, thyme, salt, black pepper, bay leaf, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- For a creamier texture, mash about 1 cup of the beans directly in the pot or blend a small portion of the soup and return it to the pot.
- Add the ditalini pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the bay leaf and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Stir in the fresh parsley before serving.
- Serve warm with grated Parmesan-style cheese if desired.
Notes
- Ditalini pasta is traditional, but small shells or elbow pasta also work well.
- Spinach, kale, or zucchini can be added for extra vegetables.
- For a thicker soup, reduce the broth slightly or mash more beans.
- Add extra broth when reheating because the pasta absorbs liquid over time.
- Cook pasta separately if preparing ahead for meal prep.
- Great Northern beans or navy beans can replace cannellini beans.
- Increase red pepper flakes for a spicier soup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
