Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons pork fatback, slightly softened and mashed into a paste
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1/4 cup to drizzle
- 1 bunch Italian parsley finely chopped to yield 1/4 cup
- 1 medium Spanish onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 quarts chicken stock, recipe follows
- 3 cups cooked borlotti beans, may substitute kidney beans
- 2 cups pieces of raw pasta left over from making tortellini or pappardelle
- Salt and pepper
Directions
In a Dutch oven, heat the pork fat and olive oil over high heat until it is almost smoking. Add the parsley and the onions and cook over high heat, until they are browned and soft, about 8 to10 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook over medium heat 10 minutes. Add the chicken stock and the cooked beans and bring to a boil. Add the pasta pieces and cook 5 or 6 more minutes. Remove from heat and allow to rest 10 minutes. Divide among 6 serving bowls, drizzle with remaining oil and serve.
Brown Chicken Stock:
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 7 pounds chicken wings, backs, and bones
- 6 carrots, coarsely chopped
- 2 onions, coarsely chopped
- 8 ribs celery, coarsely chopped
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons black peppercorns
- 2 bunches parsley stems
In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the oil over high heat until smoking. Add all the chicken parts and brown all over, stirring to avoid burning. Remove the chicken and reserve. Add the carrots, onions, and celery to the pot and cook until soft and browned. Return the chicken to the pot and add 6 quarts of water, the tomato paste, peppercorns, and parsley. Stir with a wooden spoon to dislodge the browned chicken and vegetables bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring almost to a boil, then reduce heat and cook at a low simmer until reduced by half, about 2 hours, occasionally skimming excess fat. Remove from heat, strain, and press on the solids with the bottom of a ladle to extract out all liquids. Stir the stock to facilitate cooling and set aside. Refrigerate stock in small containers for up to a week or freeze for up to a month.
Yield: 1 1/2 quarts
Photo: Pasta and Bean Soup: Pasta e Fagioli Recipe
















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By camohn
New Providence,PA
on May 14, 2012
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the nice thing about this is that it is flexible. I didn't have pork fat so just saved the bacon fat from the bacon I cooked up for breakfast and used it in this soup for lunch. I didn't have quite enough kidney beans on hand so threw in some white beans to make up the 3 cups. Didn't even miss the garlic. My husband really liked the flavor but.....to get a 5 he would like to see a little more meat in it.
By gbass_12690105
Beverly Hills, 43
on February 25, 2010
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This soup was heart warming and just perfect during the holidays.
It was quick, fast and just perfect. If you freeze it, do it without the pasta. I couldn't find pork fat. I used a good piece of pork with lots of fat, once well browned, I removed the piece and served it on the side for those pork lovers.
By smt_1454795
somerville, MA
on January 13, 2008
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This soup has quickly become a household favorite. First made it with stock made from a leftover Thanksgiving turkey carcass, which was amazing. Other homemade stocks work well too. When stored in the refrigerator, the pasta continues to drink the soup, so if this bothers you, only add the pasta to the soup you will enjoy that day.
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