Perfect Comfort: Barefoot Contessa Pasta Fagioli Recipe

Pasta fagioli whispers tales of comfort and warmth from traditional Italian kitchens.

Rustic and soul-satisfying, this classic dish transforms simple ingredients into a magical culinary experience.

Hearty beans and tender pasta dance together in a rich, aromatic broth that speaks of home-cooked love.

Packed with nutritious vegetables and robust seasonings, the recipe promises a nourishing meal that hugs you from the inside.

Each spoonful carries memories of grandmothers stirring pots with care and passion.

Layers of flavor build complexity that makes this soup more than just a meal – it’s a celebration of rustic cooking.

Unexpected depth and simplicity combine to create something truly memorable: dive into this comforting classic.

Why Barefoot Contessa Pasta Fagioli Recipe Feels Like Home

• Savor Hearty Comfort: This pasta fagioli delivers a warm, soul-satisfying experience packed with rich vegetables and tender beans that hug you like a culinary comfort blanket.
• Simplify Weeknight Cooking: The recipe comes together quickly with basic ingredients, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want delicious meals without complicated techniques or hard-to-find components.
• Embrace Nutritious Layers: Loaded with protein from cannellini beans, vitamins from vegetables, and wholesome pasta, this dish provides a balanced meal that nourishes your body while delighting your taste buds.
• Master One-Pot Convenience: By creating a straightforward cooking method that combines everything in minimal steps, this recipe minimizes kitchen cleanup and maximizes flavor, allowing you to enjoy a restaurant-quality meal with minimal effort.

Everything Inside Barefoot Contessa Pasta Fagioli

Main Ingredients:

• Onion: Essential aromatic base with sweet and savory flavor profile.
• Carrot: Adds natural sweetness and vibrant color to the soup.
• Celery: Provides subtle herbal undertone and classic soup foundation.
• Garlic: Intense flavor booster with robust aromatic qualities.

• Chicken Broth: Rich foundational liquid that provides depth and body to the soup.
• Tomato Sauce: Adds tangy, slightly sweet base with smooth texture.
• Parsley: Fresh herb that brings bright, clean flavor accent.
• Basil: Aromatic herb with sweet and peppery undertones.

• Cannellini Beans: Creamy white beans that add protein and hearty texture.
• Ditalini Pasta: Small tube-shaped pasta perfect for soup consistency.

• Black Pepper: Provides warm, slightly spicy flavor enhancement.
• Salt: Essential seasoning for balancing and highlighting other ingredients.

• Parmesan Cheese: Sharp, salty cheese that adds rich finishing touch.

• Water: Neutral base for cooking pasta with added salt.

How to Make Pasta Fagioli

Step 1: Prepare the Aromatic Base

• Onion
• Carrot
• Celery

Sauté the vegetables until they become soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Mince garlic and toss into the pot, cooking for 30 seconds until the kitchen fills with a delightful aroma.

Step 2: Build the Soup Foundation

• Fresh parsley
• Basil leaves
• Ground black pepper
• Tomato sauce

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and let it bubble uncovered for 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to dance and meld together.

Step 3: Cook the Pasta Perfectly

Fill a separate pot with water and add a pinch of salt. Bring to a rolling boil. Drop ditalini pasta into the water and cook for 8 minutes until it reaches that ideal al dente texture. Drain the pasta thoroughly.

Step 4: Marry the Ingredients

Gently fold the cooked pasta and cannellini beans into the simmering soup. Let everything warm together for 1-2 minutes. Taste and sprinkle in additional salt and pepper if needed.

Step 5: Serve with Flair

Ladle the steaming soup into warm bowls. Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top if desired. Serve alongside a crusty slice of bread for the ultimate comfort meal.

Top Tips for Pasta Fagioli Comfort

• Release Vegetable Flavors: Slowly sauté onions, carrots, and celery over medium heat until they become soft and translucent, developing a deeper, richer taste for your pasta fagioli.
• Protect Garlic's Delicate Flavor: Sprinkle minced garlic into the pan during the final 30 seconds of sautéing to prevent burning and preserve its sweet, aromatic essence.
• Control Soup Consistency: Simmer the soup uncovered to allow excess liquid to evaporate, concentrating the flavors and creating a more robust, hearty texture.
• Perfect Pasta Technique: Cook pasta separately until just al dente, ensuring it maintains a slight firmness that won't turn mushy when added to the hot soup.
• Enhance Depth of Flavor: Consider adding a parmesan rind during simmering to infuse the soup with a subtle, complex cheese undertone that elevates the entire dish.

How to Store Barefoot Contessa Pasta Fagioli

• Portioning: Divide cooled soup into individual serving containers before refrigerating. This strategy prevents repeated reheating, preserving flavor and texture while making meal prep easier throughout the week.
• Freezing: Transfer completely cooled soup to freezer-safe containers, leaving one inch of space at the top for expansion. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn and maintain quality. Label containers with date and contents for quick kitchen organization.
• Reheating: Thaw frozen soup in the refrigerator overnight, then warm gently in a pot over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally to distribute heat evenly and prevent scorching. Add a splash of water or broth if the soup seems too thick after freezing, restoring its original creamy consistency.

Flavor Additions for Pasta Fagioli Lovers

• Vegetarian Comfort Bowl: Swap chicken broth for vegetable broth and add extra hearty vegetables like zucchini and spinach for a plant-based version. Replace cannellini beans with mixed beans for more protein variety.
• Spicy Mediterranean Kick: Incorporate red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, and a splash of white wine to enhance the soup's depth. Add chopped chorizo or spicy Italian sausage for meat lovers seeking bold flavors.
• Creamy Rustic Edition: Stir in a splash of heavy cream or dollop of ricotta cheese before serving. Sprinkle crispy pancetta bits on top for extra texture and rich, savory notes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves for a vibrant finish.
• Gluten-Free Herb Garden Style: Use gluten-free pasta and ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free. Increase fresh herb quantities like oregano and thyme to boost aromatic complexity. Top with toasted pine nuts for added crunch and nutty undertones.

Savoring the Last Spoon of Pasta Fagioli

Pasta fagioli emerges as pure comfort, blending Italian tradition with hearty ingredients that speak directly to soul-satisfying meals.

Barefoot Contessa’s classic recipe whispers warmth through its carefully balanced flavors and simple preparation technique.

Rustic ingredients dance together, creating layers of richness impossible to resist.

Mediterranean culinary magic unfolds in each carefully crafted spoonful, connecting home cooks with generations of culinary wisdom.

Soup lovers will find remarkable depth in this unpretentious yet sophisticated dish that celebrates authentic Italian home cooking.

Passionate cooking enthusiasts: share this delightful recipe, spark conversations about culinary traditions, and spread gastronomic joy across your favorite social platforms – because delicious memories are meant to be celebrated together.

Barefoot Contessa Pasta Fagioli Recipe

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4.7 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s pasta fagioli brings rustic Italian comfort straight to your kitchen. Hearty beans, savory pancetta, and rich tomato broth combine in a soul-warming soup that beckons you to savor each comforting spoonful.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Vegetables:

• 1 carrot, diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• ¼ cup diced onion
• ½ teaspoon chopped garlic

Liquid Ingredients:

• 24 to 32 ounces (680 to 907 grams) tomato sauce (adjust based on desired thickness)
• 1 (14 ounces / 397 grams) can low sodium chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Seasonings and Pasta:

• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• ½ tablespoon dried basil leaves
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 ½ cups (354 milliliters) ditalini pasta
• 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

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Instructions

1. Create a flavor foundation by warming extra virgin olive oil in a medium-sized saucepan over moderate heat. Gently sauté the finely chopped onion, diced carrot, and sliced celery until they become tender and translucent, approximately 5-6 minutes.
2. Introduce minced garlic to the vegetable mixture, stirring continuously for about 40 seconds to release its aromatic essence without burning, which could introduce bitter undertones.
3. Pour in the rich chicken broth, incorporating freshly chopped parsley, dried basil, ground black pepper, and smooth tomato sauce. Whisk the ingredients together to ensure harmonious blending.
4. Allow the soup to reach a gentle simmer, uncovered, for 18-22 minutes, enabling the flavors to meld and intensify. This slow cooking process develops a robust and complex taste profile.
5. Simultaneously, prepare the pasta in a separate pot by bringing water to a rolling boil. Add a pinch of kosher salt (approximately or 2.5 grams) and carefully add the ditalini pasta (small tube-shaped pasta).
6. Cook the pasta until it reaches al dente texture, typically 7-9 minutes, ensuring it maintains a slight firmness when bitten. Drain thoroughly using a colander.
7. Incorporate the cooked ditalini and drained cannellini beans into the simmering soup. Gently stir and heat for an additional 1-2 minutes, allowing the ingredients to integrate seamlessly.
8. Taste and refine the seasoning, adding kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed to enhance the overall flavor profile.
9. Ladle the steaming soup into warm bowls, optionally garnishing with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and serving alongside a crusty artisan bread for a complete dining experience.

Notes

• Elevate Vegetable Sautéing: Slowly caramelize onions, carrots, and celery over medium heat to unlock deep, rich flavors that will transform your soup’s base.
• Protect Delicate Garlic: Introduce minced garlic during the final 30 seconds of vegetable cooking to prevent burning and maintain its sweet, aromatic essence.
• Master Pasta Preparation: Separately cook pasta just until al dente, ensuring it retains a slight firmness that prevents mushiness when added to the hot soup.
• Control Liquid Concentration: Simmer soup uncovered, allowing excess liquid to gently evaporate and concentrate the broth’s natural, robust taste.
• Optimize Seasoning Timing: Add herbs and spices in stages, starting with robust ones during cooking and finishing with delicate herbs just before serving to maximize flavor complexity.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 212 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 360 mg
• Fat: 4 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 37 g
• Fiber: 6 g
• Protein: 9 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg