This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Pasta e fa*gioli is a deliciously hearty, stew-like soup loaded with pasta, beans and Italian sausage. Every bite is rich with flavor and plenty of vegetables.
This soup is so hearty you won’t need a salad or other tagalong side dishes to complete the meal. It’s filling, comforting and just so darn good. The Italian sausage adds so much flavor and the heart healthy beans give it a nice textural contrast. You can use any kind of small pasta for this soup, but we prefer for the more traditional ditalini for it’s tiny tubular shape.
Is it hard to make Pasta e fa*gioli Soup?
The process for making Pasta e fa*gioli soup is an easy one, with most of the prep time used to chop vegetables.The Italian sausage is removed from its casings and broken into pieces while cooked until lightly browned. Add in all the vegetables and cook until softened. Next you stir in the garlic and seasonings and then add the tomatoes, Parmesan rind, beans and a little broth. Once everything is cooked the pasta is added and cooked until just tender. Aside from prepping the vegetables, this easy soup takes about 30 minutes to get on the table.
If you want to freeze the soup, or store for more than one or two days, omit the pasta until warming to serve.
As with any pasta filled soup, the ditalini tends to get mushy if stored for a long time. Storing leftovers for a day or two is not a big deal. However, for longer storage we recommend that you cook the pasta separately and refrigerate until ready to serve. Add the pre-cooked pasta to the pot while warming the soup and viola! Perfectly cooked al dente pasta in your soup 🙂
Don’t forget to garnish with plenty of fresh chopped parsley and lots of Parmesan cheese.
This soup is also pretty great with an extra drizzle of olive oil just before serving. If you prefer a brothier soup, add an extra cup of chicken broth to the pot or reduce the amount of pasta and Italian sausage added. I don’t think you can mess this up so feel free to make it your own. I use a sweet variety of Italian sausage but hot Italian will be great too. There’s good reason this soup is so popular and beloved. It’s delicious, easy and satisfying!
Thanks for PINNING!
Let’s be cooking friends! When you try our recipe please feel free to leave a comment on this post. I’m sure your experience and insights will help all our readers, and it helps me too. Also, if you’re onPinterestfeel free to leave a comment and photo there if you have one! If you share on INSTAGRAMtag @savingroomfordessert so we can stop by and give your post some love. And we’d be very happy if you’d FOLLOW Saving Room for Dessert on FACEBOOK| INSTAGRAM| PINTEREST | TWITTER and subscribe to ourYOUTUBEchannel for all the latest recipes, videos and updates. Thank you!!!
PRINT THE RECIPE!
Pasta e fa*gioli Soup
Prep Time: 30 minutes mins
Cook Time: 30 minutes mins
Total Time: 1 hour hr
Yield: 6 people
Course: Soup
Author: Tricia
Pin RecipePrint RecipeRate Recipe
5 from 5 votes
A delicious pasta, bean and sausage soup with plenty of flavor with an Italian flare!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil plus extra for drizzling
- 1 pound Italian sausage casings removed
- 3 carrots peeled and chopped
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 1 onion chopped
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 28 ounce can peeled tomatoes chopped, juice reserved
- Parmesan rind
- 15 ½ ounce can cannellini beans rinsed and drained
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth divided
- 1 cup water
- 6 ounces ditalini or other small pasta
- 2 cups sliced baby spinach leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley leaves, for garnish
- 2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium until shimmering. Add the sausage and cook, breaking the sausage into chunks. Cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
Add the carrots, celery and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, oregano and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring constantly until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and juice; stir to combine. Add the Parmesan rind, beans and 1 cup of the broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the remaining chicken broth and 1 cup of water. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the soup to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Discard the cheese rind. Turn off the heat, add the spinach to the pot and stir until wilted. Check seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.
Ladle soup into individual bowls and garnish with parsley, grated Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil if desired.
Recipe Notes
- For a brothier soup, add more chicken broth or use less sausage and pasta.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.
Nutrition
Calories: 515kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 1080mg | Potassium: 838mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 6228IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 149mg | Iron: 5mg
Kitchen Essentials – the BEST Soup Pot!
The Staub Cast Iron 3.75-quart Essential French Oven is versatile for everything from a whole chicken to a pot of soup. The enameled cast iron is easy to clean and doesn’t require seasoning. The textured black matte enamel interior ensures exceptional browning and it’s oven safe up to 500F. Watch for sales on this kitchen essential on Amazon and Williams Sonoma.
*Saving Room for Dessert is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program ~ I earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you, which I use to pay for web hosting and services for this blog. Thanks for supporting SRFD!
If you’re looking for a few more delicious vegetable loaded soups to try this season, don’t miss ourcomforting, filling and delicious Hearty Beef and Gnocchi Soup. Our chunky soup is worthy of an entire meal, especially when served with a hunk of crusty bread to sop up all the delicious broth! Click HERE to get the recipe for Hearty Beef and Gnocchi Soup. For another Italian favorite, be sure to try our classic Minestrone Soup. OurMinestrone Soup isfull of healthy legumes, green leafy vegetables, plenty of Italian herbs, ahandful of pasta,and wonderfullyrich tomatoey broth. Click HERE to get the recipe for Minestrone Soup.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Tricia
