Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Soup's a good thing!

I got this recipe from friend Barb, which is pretty dang close to the soup at Olive Garden, which I always order when we go there for soup/salad.  The Travelingbells declare it delizioso...or is it deliziosa?!  Anyway, we loved it...and it will be made again:

Pasta e Fagioli

  • 1 lb turkey sausage, diced (I used ground beef, since that is what I had)
  • 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 C onion, chopped
  • 2 tsp garlic, minced (I used more)
  • 3 oz pancetta 
  • 4 C fat-free, low sodium chicken both
  • 3 celery stalks, sliced
  • 3 carrots, sliced (I will chop next time)
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans white kidney beans (or great northern), drained and rinsed
  • 2 (14.5 oz cans) low sodium diced tomatoes
  • 2 (14.5 oz cans) low sodium tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp basil
  • 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1 TBSP parsley
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 pinch of red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 C ditalini pasta
  • grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, etc., for serving

Directions:

Brown the sausage. Saute the onion, garlic and pancetta in EVOO until tender. Toss everything into a large 6 qt crockpot. Stir well and cover. Cook on low for 8 hours. During last hour, add the pasta.

Editor's note:
Mayberry didn't have pancetta, so I used black-pepper bacon (which was good).  I did find the ditalini pasta, and think I will use a bit more next time I make this.  It totally filled my 6 qt. crockpot, so I have plenty to freeze.

Love me some one-pot meals.  Pass the crusty French bread, please!

4 comments:

Sandee said...

I'm coming over for this. I'll bring some great red wine.

Have a fabulous day honey. Big hugs from chilly California. Scritches to the babies. ♥♥♥

Joy said...

I wondered when I read "pancetta" if you'd found it around here. I'm surprised you found the fancy pasta, that's one I've never heard of, but I'm sure the soup was delicious.

Barb said...

The only place I can find pancetta is Publix. Ditalini I can even find at the Walmart! I toss it in many soups. Good stuff!

So glad you enjoyed it. It's my all-time favorite! Now I need to make me up another batch! And I also buy French bread rather than Italian. Crusty on the outside, soft and fabulous on the inside... especially love it warmed in the oven!

big hugs from near perfect weather here at the Swamp! xoxo

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Sounds perfect for a coll autumn day :)