"16 Bean" Pasta E Fagioli

Serves: 5

Fredy Murphy

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

54

Spice

54

Sweetness

53

Sourness

45

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.9

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 large

Onion (chopped)

Directions:

1

The day before you plan to make the soup, place the bean mix in a large bowl, add cold water to cover by 2 inches and refrigerate overnight

2

The next day, drain the beans, rinse under cold running water and drain again

3

Place the beans in a large pot with 8 cups of cold water

4

Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 1 hour

5

Stir occasionally and skim off any foam that rises to the top

6

The beans should be very tender and the skin will peel away when you blow on a bean

7

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium (10-inch) stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat

8

Add the pancetta and onion and saute over medium to medium-high heat for 12 to 18 minutes, until browned

9

Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and saute for one minute

10

Add the tomatoes, wine, 4 cups of the chicken stock, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper and turn off the heat

11

Drain the beans and add two-thirds of them to the soup

12

Pass the remaining beans through a food mill, discarding the skins

13

Stir the bean puree and the pasta into the soup, bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender

14

Add up to 2 more cups chicken stock if the soup is too thick

15

Stir in the Parmesan and the vinegar

16

Ladle the soup into large shallow bowls and add a swirl of olive oil, a sprinkle of Parmesan and some basil

17

Serve hot with extra Parmesan on the side

18

Photograph by Steve Giralt