Pasta e Fagioli
10 ounces, 1 1/4 cups dry navy beans, soaked
6 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2/3 cup oil
1 bay leaf
2 or 3 garlic cloves, whole, plus 1 or 2 crushed garlic cloves
3 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 large onion, chopped
3 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon dry oregano
1/2 teaspoon dry basil
Salt and pepper
6 to 7 tomatoes, peeled and chunked
1/2 pound shell macaroni
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Drain beans, cover with water. Add salt,
2/3 cup oil, bay leaf, and whole garlic cloves. Simmer gently
until beans are tender, 2 to 3 hours. Drain, reserving liquid;
discard bay leaf and garlic.
- Heat 3 tablespoons oil in large frying
pan. Add carrots, celery, and onion and cook until onion is soft.
Add crushed garlic and seasonings and simmer 30 minutes. Add
tomatoes and cook another 10 minutes.
- Cook macaroni in boiling salted water
until just tender. Combine beans, vegetables, and drained pasta
with 1 1/2 cups bean liquid. Cover and simmer another 10 minutes,
stirring occasionally. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve
with grated Parmesan cheese.
Makes 6 to 8 servings
Recipe provided courtesy Michigan Bean Commisson.