Pasta e fa*gioli Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Bacon

by: QueenOfGreen

January15,2010

4.5

8 Ratings

  • Serves 2

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Author Notes

I swear, when I came home from a study abroad in Rome, I ate this so much my friends began to call it Pasta Fa-Julie. (Yes, that's my name! Close enough anyway. The secret's out!) I modified this one from Gourmet magazine. —QueenOfGreen

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 2 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 small stalk celery
  • 1 can (14 oz?) chicken broth
  • 1 can (16 oz?) cannelini beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (16 oz?) whole tomatoes, drained and chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoondried oregano
  • 1/2 cupdittalini
  • 2 tablespoonsfresh parsley, minced
  • grated Parmesan
Directions
  1. In a heavy saucepan cook bacon over moderate heat, stirring until crisp. Add onion and garlic, stirring until onion is soft and transparent. Add celery. Add broth and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.
  2. In a bowl mash 1/3 of the beans, then stir them into the onion mixture along with the remaining whole beans, tomatoes, and oregano. Simmer the soup, covered for 15 minutes, or until pasta is al dente. Then remove from heat and let stand, still covered, for 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in parsley and top with (lots of!) Parmesan. Feast.

Tags:

  • Pasta
  • Italian
  • Bacon
  • Bean
  • Celery
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Entree
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See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • bethL

  • juliunruly

  • MrsBeeton

  • timmytwinkle

  • Chloe Surrentino

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62 Reviews

kiersten February 25, 2021

I just want to say that I love this soup and make it a few times a month for my family. I like that the recipe is loose because it lets me add a little bit more here or there and adjust to my tastes. It’s delicious and easy. Thank you for sharing it!

bethL December 29, 2015

Wow just made this and really wish the amounts were more specific, like juliunruly said. I started to put in my can of tomatoes. I I put about 3/4 of the can(24oz), which was clearly way too much. The whole thing seems a bit of a disaster. It's cooking on the stove now, I added more of everything again, to hopefully even it out. I'm not sure it will, for the time being it just tastes like tomato sauce. I was so hopeful. Can you please be more specific so that I can try it again? My son was so excited, but for now, there's no way he'll eat it. Thanks.

QueenOfGreen December 29, 2015

The canned volumes are intentionally not exact as it seems every time I use a different brand or move to a new country the size changes slightly. The listed ounces sizes are approximate so that the cook with know to use something of about the right size (14-16 ounces instead of a double-sized 28-32 ounce can). I'm so sorry you're having difficulties.

kissy28c December 29, 2015

I found that adding a whole box of chicken broth (32 oz) is better than a can, 4 pieces of bacon (applewood smoked), and 3 big stalks of celery even out this recipe.

bethL December 29, 2015

Thank you!!!

juliunruly December 28, 2015

This is delicious. But it's a sloppily written recipe, which can make it hard to follow. It doesn't say when to add the pasta, it doesn't say what to do with the celery, the volumes for several ingredients are ambiguous ("1 can [14oz?] chicken broth"), etc. That being said, it was still very tasty and I'm excited to eat the leftovers for lunch today.

QueenOfGreen December 29, 2015

The canned volumes are intentionally not exact as it seems every time I use a different brand or move to a new country the size changes slightly. The listed ounces sizes are approximate so that the cook with know to use something of about the right size (14-16 ounces instead of a double-sized 28-32 ounce can). Glad you liked it just the same.

FabFran October 21, 2015

I can't tell you home many times I have made this recipe. After making it the first time, I realized that one recipe amount is not enough so ever since I have double it. We must always have some leftover pasta e Julie!!!!!

QueenOfGreen October 24, 2015

So glad to hear it, FabFran!

MrsBeeton August 12, 2015

I love that you add the pasta uncooked to the broth--it ends up cooking like a risotto (and just like risotto, I found I had to add more hot broth to the pan while it was cooking). I added some rosemary--yum. And then I put a spinach chiffonade at the bottom of the pasta bowls and ladled the yummy pasta over it. Delicious, and my new go-to, need-to-have-dinner-ready-in 20-minutes supper! Thanks for a great recipe!

timmytwinkle December 28, 2014

Is the celery meant to be chopped? small diced? or added just for seasoning the broth?

goldenblind221 December 28, 2014

I don't know how the original poster intended, but I chop my celery the same size as the carrot.

goldenblind221 December 28, 2014

Oh, I add carrot. Small chop. Sorry.

QueenOfGreen December 28, 2014

I dice it up small. I supposed that's a texture thing if you want to chop or dice - whatever floats your boat!

timmytwinkle December 28, 2014

thank you!

Chloe S. May 4, 2014

Just wanted to say this is my go to recipe it tastes the closest I've ever found to how my Nonno cooks his and my partner just loves it :) making it tonight can't wait to eat it.

QueenOfGreen May 5, 2014

Aw, thanks! Love hearing from people who are cooking it!

Sue March 22, 2014

There is no need to use a pressure cooker with this recipe. Its easy and you just cook it as long as you want.

gina March 7, 2014

Is there an electric pressure cooker version of this recipe?

gina March 7, 2014

Do you have an electric pressure cooker version of this recipes?

QueenOfGreen March 7, 2014

I've never owned a pressure cooker, so no, I don't. I'm not sure this would be the recipe that would make much sense to use one, since it only takes about as long as cooking the pasta. But like I said, I've never owned one, so not familiar with pressure cooking!

Sherry E. December 26, 2013

pasta add when? how much broth?

QueenOfGreen December 26, 2013

Pasta cooks in step 2. Broth is one can (which, depending on brand is about 14 or 15 ounces). Enjoy!

calftaylor August 11, 2013

Just made this as part of my dinner tonight (along with proscuitto-wrapped chicken breasts stuffed with mozzerella and basil) - it was fantastic! I'm going to try it with italian sausage in it next time and probably add more veggies, but it was great just as it was.

QueenOfGreen August 11, 2013

Glad you liked it! (The chicken sounds delicious too!)

Sue May 5, 2014

My Italian grandfather put pepperoni in pasta fa*goli

QueenOfGreen December 28, 2014

For some reason only just seeing this now! But pepperoni sounds yum.

Sue December 29, 2014

That's okay. Yes he would slice it thin and cook it in the pot with everything else. The recipe is the same and I still make it this way but without the pepperoni. Don't like cooked pepperoni.

Carolyn P. April 25, 2013

loved this!

FabFran April 22, 2013

This is THE BEST Pasta e fa*gioli recipe I have ever tried. The only thing is I will have to double the recipe when I make it from now on!

QueenOfGreen April 22, 2013

THANKS! High praise indeed!

TheSteadyTable April 17, 2013

I made a vegetarian version of this tonight, using butter, olive oil and a parmesan rind instead of bacon. It was great.
http://www.thesteadytable.com/pasta-e-fa*gioli/

QueenOfGreen April 22, 2013

Parmesan rind sounds good!

Ceege March 10, 2013

Made this today for dinner. So simple and delicious. I added some fresh chopped spinach and used canned "fire-roasted" diced tomatoes. My family loved this and I will be making it often.

QueenOfGreen February 19, 2012

Thanks for the comments everyone!

GreggHollander February 2, 2012

Pasta goes in with the mashed beans in Step 2.

Made this for a party the other day -- very well received.

KABenson January 21, 2012

Love this - it's light but hearty at the same time. I doubled it for a family of five (three kids) and it is a great winter night meal with a crispy garlic bread.

MellyHBee January 19, 2012

What a delightful soup! Love!

Pasta e fa*gioli Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between pasta fa*gioli and pasta Fazool? ›

To sum it up, pasta e fa*gioli feels more like a vegetable and bean soup, whereas the Italian American pasta fazool created by southern Italian immigrants features a "broth" that's more like a marinara sauce (made with crushed tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, onion, and seasonings), along with ample helpings of white beans ...

What is pasta e fa*gioli soup made of? ›

Pasta e fa*gioli, sometimes shortened to pasta fa*gioli (or pasta fazool if you're a Sopranos fan), is a classic Italian soup. Its name literally translates to “pasta and beans,” and it consists of tiny pasta, creamy beans, and tender vegetables in a fragrant tomato broth.

What does fa*gioli mean in Italian? ›

The word fa*gioli (pronounced "fa-JOLE-ee") is the Italian word for beans.

What's the difference between pasta fa*gioli and minestrone? ›

The answer is that traditionally, yes, there's a difference, even if you can't spot it right away. While Pasta e fa*gioli tends to be a thick and hearty bowl of beans and pasta, the thing it lacks is chunks of veggies. That's where Minestrone comes in…to fill the veggie void left by its country cousin.

Does pasta fa*gioli contain meat? ›

Does pasta fa*gioli contain meat? Yes. this pasta fa*gioli Olive Garden recipe contains ground beef. It adds plenty of protein and flavor, plus it helps make the soup extra hearty.

What does pasta fa*gioli mean in Italian? ›

Pasta e fa*gioli means “pasta and beans” in Italian—this recipe is much more than that! This hearty vegetarian stew is full of irresistible fresh flavor. It's vegan, too, as long as you don't top it with cheese. Recipe yields 6 bowls or 8 cups of soup.

Did Olive Garden discontinue pasta fa*gioli soup? ›

fa*gioli has been taken off the menu. Sorry to disappoint you. sad to see that it had been discontinued.

What was Dean Martin's favorite Italian dish? ›

“When the stars make you drool just like a pasta fa*gioli, that's amore,” Martin croons. The pasta and bean dish is more than just an apt rhyme for “drool,” Martin is actually singing about one specific version of pasta fa*gioli that he loves: his mother's.

What are the ingredients in Progresso pasta fa*gioli? ›

Water, Tomato Puree (water, tomato paste), Great Northern Beans, Kidney Beans, Mezzanini Rigati Pasta (semolina wheat, egg whites).

What does the word zuppa mean in Italian? ›

(ˈzuːpə, Italian ˈtsuːppɑː) noun. Italian Cookery. a soup or chowder. [1960–65; ‹ It: soup]

What is the meaning of moron in Italian? ›

a very stupid person. deficiente, cretino, -a, idiota. (Translation of moron from the Cambridge English-Italian Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

What does Lota mean in Italian? ›

[ feminine ] /'lɔtːa/ (scontro fisico) fight , conflict , struggle. lotta a mani nude hand-to-hand combat.

What is a substitute for fa*gioli beans? ›

Ingredients to make Pasta e fa*gioli

fa*gioli Beans are the star of the dish which are also known as Borlotti beans. You can also substitute with Cannellini beans or Red Kidney beans. I've used canned beans however you can also use dried beans that have been soaked and then cooked in an instant pot.

Does Progresso make pasta fa*gioli soup? ›

Specifically, Progresso's Macaroni and Bean (Pasta E fa*gioli).

What is cannellini fa*gioli? ›

fa*gioli Cannellini - Cannellini Beans

They have a wonderful tender texture, fine thin skin, and delicate flavor. The dried beans must be soaked at least 12 hours or overnight, then simmered in abundant water with aromatics until evenly cooked with a firm, yet creamy texture (about one hour).

Why do people say pasta fazool? ›

This is a soup with white beans and pasta, but the lead role is played by the beans, rather than the pasta. Here in the US, this soup is often referred to as pasta fazool, where fazool is derived from the Sicilian or Neapolitan dialect for beans.

What is very fine pasta called? ›

Capellini: With ultra-thin strands that measure between 0.85 and 0.92 millimeters, this pasta is delicate and falls apart if overcooked. It's often labeled as “angel hair” pasta.

Why is it called pasta puttanesca? ›

Etymology. Because puttana means roughly 'whor*' or 'prostitute' and puttanesca is an adjective derived from that word, the dish may have been invented in one of many bordellos in the Naples working-class neighbourhood of Quartieri Spagnoli as a quick meal taken between servicing clients.

What part of Italy does pasta fa*gioli come from? ›

Pasta e fa*gioli
Alternative namesPasta fa*gioli, pasta fasul, pašta fažol, pasta fazool
Region or stateCalabria Campania Emilia Lazio Lombardy Piedmont Tuscany Veneto
Main ingredientsSmall pasta (elbow macaroni, ditalini), cannellini beans or borlotti beans, olive oil, garlic, onions, spices, stewed tomato or tomato paste
4 more rows

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