Pasta e fa*gioli Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Bacon

by: QueenOfGreen

January15,2010

4.5

8 Ratings

  • Serves 2

Jump to Recipe

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
Contest Entries
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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 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.

Why is it called pasta fa*gioli? ›

The name means "pasta and beans" in Italian. The dish typically includes ingredients such as cannellini beans, small pasta shapes like ditalini or elbow macaroni, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and herbs like rosemary and parsley. Some variations may also include vegetables like carrots, celery, or spinach.

Does pasta fa*gioli contain meat? ›

While the two are very similar, minestrone contains a wide variety of vegetables while the pasta e fa*gioli at Olive Garden features more beans and noodles. It also has a much thicker texture, almost like stew, and a stronger tomato flavor. Does pasta fa*gioli contain meat? Yes.

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 is the difference between fazool and fa*gioli? ›

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 does the word zuppa mean in Italian? ›

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

What part of Italy is pasta fa*gioli from? ›

One pasta dish that the Veneto is famous for, however, is pasta e fa*gioli (or pasta e fasioi in Venetian dialect.) This is a soup with white beans and pasta, but the lead role is played by the beans, rather than the pasta.

What is macaroni called in Italian? ›

Macaroni (/ˌmækəˈroʊni/, Italian: maccheroni) is pasta shaped like narrow tubes. Made with durum wheat, macaroni is commonly cut in short lengths; curved macaroni may be referred to as elbow macaroni.

What do real Italians call pasta? ›

Italians call spaghetti “spaghetti “ and pasta “ pasta “.

What is badly cut pasta in Italian? ›

The excess parts of the dough, generally the edges, are left with irregular shape and thickness, therefore "poorly cut" or, in Italian, maltagliati. Maltagliati are therefore cut from such scrap pieces of pasta, and differ in shape, size and thickness.

Who invented pasta fa*gioli? ›

Pasta e fa*gioli, pronounced as "pasta fazool" in Italian-American slang, is a traditional Italian dish that translates to "pasta and beans." The soup is a staple in Italian cuisine and has been around for centuries, with origins dating back to ancient Roman times.

What is a substitute for fa*gioli beans? ›

Cannellini beans would probably be the next closest bean as when cooked they have similar texture to borlotti beans and cannellini beans are also popular in Italy. However, the cooking time of beans depends on the type of bean and also their age, so the cannellini beans may take longer to cook.

Is pasta fa*gioli the same as 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.

Are minestrone and pasta fa*gioli the same? ›

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.

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).

Is pasta fa*gioli high in carbs? ›

Olive Garden Pasta E fa*gioli (1 serving) contains 21g total carbs, 17g net carbs, 6g fat, 9g protein, and 180 calories.

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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