Copycat Italian Restaurant Pasta E Fagioli 🍝🍲

This comforting and hearty Italian dish is perfect for chilly evenings and family gatherings. It’s a flavorful blend of pasta, creamy beans, and zesty tomatoes, reminiscent of your favorite Italian restaurant. Best of all, it's simple to prepare and can easily be adjusted to fit your taste preferences!

Ingredients

For the soup base

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)

For the beans and pasta

• 1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
• 1 cup small pasta (like ditalini or elbow macaroni)

For garnishing

• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Sauté the veggies: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes until the veggies are tender. Then, stir in the garlic, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes and cook for another minute until fragrant.

🥄 Stirring the vegetables initially is key to infusing flavor into the olive oil. Make sure they’re softened but not browned for the perfect base!

2. Add the beans and tomatoes: Pour in the cannellini beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer and let it cook for about 10 minutes.

3. Cook the pasta: Add the pasta to the soup and continue simmering for another 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

🍝 If you want your pasta to maintain its firmness, consider cooking it separately and adding it to individual servings.

4. Season: Taste the soup and add salt and pepper as needed. Remove from heat.

5. Serve: Ladle the pasta e fagioli into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

🌱 Fresh parsley not only adds a pop of color but also brightens the flavors of the dish!

Variations

• Vegetarian/Vegan: Already vegan-friendly if you use vegetable broth! For extra protein, add more beans like chickpeas.

• Spicy: If you like it hot, add more red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce for an added kick! 🔥

• Creamy: Stir in a splash of heavy cream or a little cream cheese just before serving for a richer, creamier texture.

• Minestrone-inspired: Toss in some chopped zucchini or spinach for extra veggies.

Storage Tips

• This soup stores well! Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze the leftovers in individual portions and thaw when needed.

Whether you’re serving it for a cozy family dinner or at a gathering with friends, this Copycat Italian Restaurant Pasta E Fagioli is sure to be a crowd-pleaser! Buon Appetito! 🍽️✨