Description
As one of my family's oldest living recipes, this Pasta e Fagioli recipe is a thick, hearty, scoopable pasta dish. It's made with bacon, marinara, tiny tube pasta called ditalini, cannellini beans, onions, and garlic. Made in 30 minutes, it's always huge hit!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 6 to 8 oz bacon, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 medium onion, small diced
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tbsp)
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil (if needed)
- 1 1/2 (20- to 24-ounce) jars marinara sauce (any kind basic variety - marinara, with basil, etc.) or an equal amount of homemade sauce
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 cup grated, shredded, or shaved parmesan or pecorino-romano cheese, plus extra for serving
- 1 (15 1/2-ounce) can cannellini beans (white beans), rinsed and drained
- 1 lb ditalini pasta or other small tubular pasta shape
Instructions
- In a large sauce pot or Dutch oven (at least 4 quarts), cook the bacon over medium-low heat until it starts to brown but isn't crispy yet. Increase the heat to medium and add the onions and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and add a drizzle of olive oil if the bottom of the pot seems a little dry. The salt will draw some of the liquid out of the onions but if there isn't enough fat from the bacon (which happens sometimes), the oil will prevent sticking and burning. Cook the mixture until the onions are translucent, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the onions cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and pop a large pot lid on top of the strainer if the pasta finishes before the bean sauce.
- Stir in about 20 ounces of the sauce, oregano, and beans into the onion mixture. I always swish a little hot water around in the sauce jar to clean it out and then pour the saucy water into the pot. Waste not want not. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, while the pasta cooks.
- Mix the cheese into the sauce and then mix in the pasta. Season with salt to taste. The dish should taste a little salty with the bacon and grated cheese.
- Lower the heat to low and allow the pasta to heat through the sauce for a couple of minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Serve hot with extra grated cheese sprinkled on top.
Notes
Smells Like Home old family recipe
